UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
☐
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
X
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
OR
☐
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from to .
Commission file number: 001-38992
AFYA LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
The Cayman Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Alameda Oscar Niemeyer, No. 119, Room 504
Vila da Serra, Nova Lima
Minas Gerais – MG, Brazil
(Address of principal executive offices) 34006
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Chief Executive Officer
Tel.: +55 (31) 3515-7550 Email: ir@afya.com.br
Alameda Oscar Niemeyer, No. 119, Room 504
Vila da Serra, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais
Brazil
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common shares, par value US$0.00005 per share
AFYA
Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
The number of outstanding shares as of December 31, 2022 was 47,920,068 Class A common shares and 45,802,763 Class B common shares.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes X No ☐
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes ☐ No X
Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations
under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of
this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes X No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or an emerging growth company. See definition of "large
accelerated filer,” "accelerated filer,” and "emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer X Accelerated Filer ☐
Non-accelerated Filer ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended
transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
† The term "new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification
after April 5, 2012.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction
of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the
registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. X
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
☐ U.S. GAAP
X International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board
☐ Other
If "Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No X
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I INTRODUCTION
1
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
5
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
5
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
5
A. Selected Financial Data
5
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
13
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
13
D. Risk Factors
14
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
52
A. History and Development of the Company
52
B. Business Overview
57
C. Organizational Structure
103
D. Property, Plant and Equipment
104
ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
104
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
104
A. Operating Results
104
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
117
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses
120
D. Trend Information
120
E. Critical Accounting Estimates
121
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
121
A. Directors and Senior Management
121
B. Compensation
125
C. Board Practices
126
D. Employees
128
E. Share Ownership
129
F. Disclosure of a Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
129
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
129
A. Major Shareholders
129
B. Related Party Transactions
131
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
134
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
134
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
134
B. Significant Changes
138
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
139
A. Offer and Listing Details
139
B. Plan of Distribution
139
C. Markets
139
D. Selling Shareholders
139
E. Dilution
139
F. Expenses of the Issue
139
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
139
A. Share Capital
139
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
139
C. Material Contracts
156
D. Exchange Controls
156
E. Taxation
156
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
160
G. Statement by Experts
160
H. Documents on Display
160
I. Subsidiary Information
160
J. Annual Report to Security Holders
160
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
161
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ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
162
A. Debt Securities
162
B. Warrants and Rights
162
C. Other Securities
162
D. American Depositary Shares
162
PART II
163
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
163
A. Defaults
163
B. Arrears and delinquencies
163
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
163
A. Material modifications to instruments
163
B. Material modifications to rights
163
C. Withdrawal or substitution of assets
163
D. Change in trustees or paying agents
163
E. Use of proceeds
163
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
163
A. Disclosure Controls and Procedures
163
B. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
164
C. Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
164
D. Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
164
ITEM 16. RESERVED
164
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
164
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
165
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
165
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
165
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
166
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
167
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
167
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
168
ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
168
PART III
168
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
168
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
168
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
168
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
ii
Table of Contents
PART I
INTRODUCTION
Certain Definitions
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this annual report to "Afya” or the "Company,” "we,” "our,” "ours,” "us” or similar terms refer to
Afya Limited, together with its subsidiaries; all references in this annual report to "Afya Brazil” refer to Afya Participações S.A. (formerly NRE Participações S.A.); all references in
this annual report to "BR Health” refer to BR Health Participações S.A.; all references in this annual report to "Medcel” refer to Guardaya Empreendimentos e Participações S.A., or
Guardaya, and its subsidiaries Medcel Editora e Eventos S.A., or Medcel, and CBB Web Serviços e Transmissões On Line S.A., or CBB Web; and all references in this annual
report to "IPTAN” refer to IPTAN—Instituto de Ensino Superior Presidente Tancredo de Almeida Neves S.A., "IESVAP” refer to Instituto de Educação Superior do Vale do
Parnaíba S.A., "CCSI” refer to Centro de Ciências em Saúde de Itajubá S.A., "IESP” refer to Instituto de Ensino Superior do Piauí S.A., "CIS” refer to Centro Integrado de Saúde de
Teresina Ltda., "FADEP” refer to FADEP—Faculdade Educacional de Pato Branco Ltda., "FASA” refer to Instituto Educacional Santo Agostinho S.A., "ESMC” refer to ESMC
Educação Superior Ltda., "IPEMED” refer to Instituto de Pesquisa e Ensino Médico do Estado de Minas Gerais Ltda., "IPEC” refer to Instituto Paraense de Educação e Cultura
Ltda, "UniRedentor” refer to Sociedade Universitária Redentor S.A., "UniSL” refer to Centro Universitário São Lucas Ltda., "PEBMED” refer to PEBMED Instituição de Pesquisa
Médica e Serviços Tecnológicos da Área da Saúde S.A., "FESAR” refer to Faculdade de Ensino Superior da Amazônia Reunida, "MedPhone” refer to MedPhone Tecnologia em
Saúde Ltda., "FCMPB” refer to Centro Superior de Ciências da Saúde S/S Ltda., "UNIFIPMoc” refer to Sociedade Padrão de Educação Superior Ltda. and NASPP - Núcleo de
Atenção à Saúde e de Práticas Profissionalizantes Ltda., collectively, "iClinic” refer to iClinic Participações S.A., iClinic Desenvolvimento de Software Ltda. and Black River Brazil
Participações S.A., collectively, "Medicinae” refer to Medicinae Solutions S.A., "Medical Harbour” refer to Medical Harbour Aparelhos Médico-Hospitalares e Serviços em
Tecnologia Ltda., "Cliquefarma” refer to Cliquefarma Drogarias Online Ltda., "Shosp” refer to Shosp Tecnologia da Informação Ltda., "Unigranrio” refer to Companhia Nilza
Cordeiro Herdy de Eduação e Cultura, Instituto de Ensino Superior de Palhoça S/S Ltda., Sociedade Educacional de Palhoça S/S Ltda., and Policlínica e Centro de Estética Duque
de Caxias Ltda., collectively, "RX PRO” refer to RX PRO Soluções de Tecnologia Ltda. and RX PRO LOG Transporte e Logistica Ltda., collectively, "Garanhuns” refer to Faculdade
ITPAC Garanhuns - Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antonio Carlos Ltda., "Além da Medicina” refer to BMV Atividades Médicas Ltda., "Cardiopapers” refer to Cardiopapers
Soluções Digitais Ltda, "Glic” refer to Quasar Telemedicina Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Computacionais Ltda., "DelRey” refer to Sociedade Educacional e Cultural Sergipe
DelRey Ltda., "ITPAC Araguaína” refer to ITPAC - Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos S.A., and "ITPAC Porto Nacional” refer to ITPAC Porto Nacional - Instituto
Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos Porto S.A.
The term "Esteves Family” refers to Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves, NRE Capital Ventures Ltd, Renato Tavares Esteves, Vanessa Tavares
Esteves and Lílian Tavares Esteves de Carvalho, collectively, our former controlling shareholders. The term "Bertelsmann” refers to Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Erste WV
Gütersloh GmbH, collectively, our currently controlling shareholder.
The term "Brazil” refers to the Federative Republic of Brazil and the phrase "Brazilian government” refers to the federal government of Brazil. "Central Bank” refers to the
Brazilian Central Bank (Banco Central do Brasil). References in the annual report to "real,” "reais” or "R$” refer to the Brazilian real, the official currency of Brazil and references
to "U.S. dollar,” "U.S. dollars” or "US$” refer to U.S. dollars, the official currency of the United States.
Financial Information
Afya is a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability duly registered with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies and incorporated on March 22, 2019. Afya
became the holding company of Afya Brazil, formerly denominated NRE Participações S.A., through the completion of the corporate reorganization described in note 1 to our
audited consolidated financial statements (as defined below) and in Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and Development of the Company—Our Pre-IPO Corporate
Reorganization.
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The consolidated financial information of Afya contained in this annual report is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021
and for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, together with the notes thereto. All references herein to "our financial statements,” "our audited consolidated financial
information,” and "our audited consolidated financial statements” are to Afya’s consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Afya is a holding company, and as such, the primary source of revenue derives from its interest in its operational companies in Brazil. As a result, Afya’s functional currency
as well as of its subsidiaries is the Brazilian real. We prepare our annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS,
as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB.
The financial results of the companies that we acquire in any given period (such companies, the "Acquired Companies”) are included in our historical results as of the date of
closing of the respective acquisition. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our Recent Acquisitions” for further details on entities acquired since
January 1, 2020. The financial results of DelRey are not reflected in the summary consolidated historical financial data included elsewhere in this annual report as the consummation
of the acquisition of such entity occurred after the year ended December 31, 2022.
Our fiscal year ends on December 31 of each year, so all references to a particular fiscal year are to the applicable year ended December 31.
Historical Undergraduate Programs Combined Tuition Fees
The term "historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees” refers to the sum equal to the total tuition fees charged to undergraduate students, as recorded in the
historical operating information of Afya Brazil and the Acquired Companies, since the consummation of their respective acquisition.
The historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees information included elsewhere in this annual report (i) was derived from historical operating information for
Afya Brazil and for each of the Acquired Companies since the consummation of their respective acquisition; (ii) is akin to gross tuition fees charged to undergraduate students;
(iii) differs from the tuition fees set forth in our audited consolidated financial statements, which are presented as the sum of (a) gross tuition fees charged to undergraduate
students, (b) gross tuition fees charged to graduate students and (c) scholarships; and (iv) does not represent revenue as disclosed in our audited consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this annual report. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees charged to
undergraduate students by us were R$2,241.8 million, R$1,990.1 million and R$1,236.5 million, respectively. Historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees does not
include tuition fees we charge graduate students.
Our consolidated operating history and recent acquisitions may make it difficult for investors to evaluate our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects. We experienced rapid and significant expansion in recent years to the effects of the acquisition of the Acquired Companies. Because the historical and operational
information included elsewhere in this annual report may not be representative of our results and operations as a consolidated company, investors may have limited financial and
operational information on which to evaluate us and their investment decision. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and
Industry—Our operating history as a consolidated company, our recent acquisitions and the comparability of our results may make it difficult for investors to evaluate our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.”
The Company’s past performance, as reflected in the historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees information included elsewhere in this annual report, may not be
indicative of its future performance or any future anticipated synergies, future operating efficiencies or cost savings that may result from these acquisitions.
Convenience Translation
The reporting currency for our audited consolidated financial statements is the Brazilian real and, solely for the convenience of the reader, we have provided convenience
translations into U.S. dollars using the selling exchange rates published by the Central Bank on its website. Unless otherwise indicated, convenience translations from reais into
U.S. dollars in this annual report use the Central Bank offer exchange rate published on December 31, 2022, which was R$5.218 per US$1.00. No representation is made that the
Brazilian reais amounts referred to could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at any particular rate. See "Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected Financial Data—
Exchange Rates” for information regarding historical exchange rates of reais to U.S. dollars.
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Market Data
This annual report contains data related to economic conditions in the market in which we operate. The information contained in this annual report concerning economic
conditions is based on publicly available information from third-party sources that we believe to be reasonable. Market data and certain industry forecast data used in this annual
report were obtained from internal reports and studies, where appropriate, as well as estimates, market research, publicly available information (including information available from
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission website) and industry publications. We obtained the information included in this annual report relating to the industry in
which we operate, as well as the estimates concerning market shares, through internal research, a report by a third-party consulting firm commissioned by us, public information
and publications on the industry prepared by official public sources, such as the Central Bank, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de
Geografia e Estatística), or the IBGE, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, the Brazilian Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação), or
MEC, the Anísio Teixeira National Institute of Educational Studies and Research (Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira), or the INEP, the
Institute of Applied Economic Research (Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada), or the IPEA as well as private sources, such as Bloomberg, consulting and research
companies in the Brazilian and international education industry, the Brazilian Economic Institute of Fundação Getulio Vargas (Instituto Brasileiro de Economia da Fundação
Getulio Vargas), or FGV/IBRE, the Association of American Medical Colleges, or AAMC among others.
Industry publications, governmental publications and other market sources, including those referred to above, generally state that the information they include has been
obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. While we are not aware of any misstatements
regarding the market and industry data presented herein, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those
discussed in the section entitled "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors.” Except as disclosed in this annual report, none of the publications, reports or other published
industry sources referred to in this annual report were commissioned by us or prepared at our request. Except as disclosed in this annual report, we have not sought or obtained
the consent of any of these sources to include such market data in this annual report.
Rounding
We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this annual report. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.
Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report on Form 20-F contains information that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, that are not based on historical facts and are not assurances of future results. The forward-looking statements
contained in this annual report, which address our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as "believe,” "expect,” "estimate,”
"anticipate,” "intend,” "plan,” "aim,” "will,” "may,” "should,” "could,” "would,” "likely,” "potential” and similar expressions. We have made forward-looking statements that
address, among other things, our current expectations, plans, forecasts, projections and strategies about future events and financial trends that affect, or may affect, our business,
industry, market share, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, margins, cash flow and/or the market price of our common shares, all of which are subject to known
and unknown risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including,
but not limited to, those identified under the section entitled "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in this annual report. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating
to:
·
our ability to implement our business strategy;
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·
changes in government regulations and legislation applicable to the education industry in Brazil, both in the traditional and distance learning segments, including tax
regulations and/or legislation;
·
government interventions, including changes in, or termination of, education industry programs such as the Higher Education Student Financing Fund (Fundo de
Financiamento ao Estudante do Ensino Superior), or FIES, and/or the University for All Program (Programa Universidade para Todos), or PROUNI, both in the
traditional and distance learning segments, that affect the economic or tax regime, the collection of tuition fees or the regulatory framework applicable to educational
institutions;
·
changes in the financial condition of the students enrolling in our institutions in general and in the competitive conditions in the education industry, both in the
traditional and distance learning segments, or changes in the financial condition of our institutions;
·
our ability to adapt to technological changes in the educational sector, including in relation to distance learning programs;
·
the availability of government authorizations on terms and conditions and within periods acceptable to us;
·
health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response (including legal or regulatory measures or
decisions mandating discounted tuition fees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic);
·
our ability to continue attracting and retaining new students;
·
our ability to maintain the academic quality of our programs;
·
our ability to compete and conduct our business in the future;
·
the success of operating initiatives, including advertising and promotional efforts and new product, service and concept development by us and our competitors;
·
changes in consumer demands and preferences and technological advances, and our ability to innovate to respond to such changes;
·
the availability of qualified personnel and the ability to retain such personnel;
·
our capitalization and level of indebtedness;
·
the interests of our controlling shareholders;
·
a decline in the number of students enrolled in our programs or the amount of tuition we can charge;
·
changes in labor, distribution and other operating costs;
·
our compliance with, and changes to, government laws, regulations and tax matters that currently apply to us;
·
general economic, financial, political, demographic and business conditions in Brazil, as well as any other countries we may serve in the future and their impact on our
business;
·
fluctuations in interest, inflation and exchange rates in Brazil and any other countries we may serve in the future;
·
other factors that may affect our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations;
·
the effectiveness of our risk management policies and procedures, including our internal control over financial reporting; and
·
the other factors discussed under the section "Risk Factors” in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The accompanying information contained in this annual report on Form 20-F, including without limitation
the information set forth under the heading "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” identifies important factors that could cause such differences. In light of the
risks, uncertainties and assumptions associated with forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Additional risks that we
may currently deem immaterial or that are not presently known to us could also cause the forward-looking events discussed in this annual report on Form 20-F not to occur.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new
information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
A. Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth selected consolidated historical financial data of Afya as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and
2020. The selected consolidated historical financial data as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 has been derived from our
audited consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this annual report. The financial results of the Acquired Companies are included in our historical results for the
periods following the closing of each such transaction, respectively. See "Part I—Introduction—Financial Information.”
The selected audited consolidated historical financial data should be read in conjunction with "Part I—Introduction—Financial Information,” "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects” and our audited consolidated financial statements, including the respective notes thereto, included elsewhere in this annual report.
The selected audited consolidated historical financial data presented in this annual report may not be indicative of future performance.
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2022
2021
2020
(in US$
millions(1))
(in R$ millions)
Statement of Income
Revenue
446.4
2,329.1
1,719.4
1,201.2
Cost of services
(164.7)
(859.6)
(652.3)
(434.7)
Gross profit
281.7
1,469.5
1,067.1
766.5
General and administrative expenses
(153.0)
(798.2)
(622.6)
(402.9)
Other expenses, net
(1.4)
(7.3)
(3.6)
(0.3)
Operating income
127.3
664.0
440.9
363.3
Finance income
19.6
102.0
64.6
62.3
Finance expenses
(67.1)
(349.9)
(243.8)
(98.3)
Finance result
(47.5)
(247.9)
(179.2)
(36.0)
Share of income of associate
2.3
12.2
11.8
7.7
Income before income taxes
82.1
428.3
273.5
335.0
Income taxes expenses
(6.8)
(35.7)
(31.2)
(27.1)
Net income
75.3
392.6
242.3
307.9
Income attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent
71.6
373.6
223.3
292.1
Non-controlling interests
3.7
19.2
19.0
15.9
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US$
R$
R$
R$
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share
Common shares
0.79
4.14
2.39
3.15
Diluted earnings per share
Common shares
0.79
4.12
2.37
3.12
(1) For convenience purposes only, amounts in reais for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been translated to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of R$5.218 to US$1.00, the
commercial selling rate for U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022, as reported by the Central Bank. These translations should not be considered representations that any such
amounts have been, could have been or could be converted at that or any other exchange rate. See "—Exchange Rates” for further information about recent fluctuations in
exchange rates.
As of December 31,
2022
2022
2021
(in US$ millions(1))
(in R$ millions)
Balance Sheet Data
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
209.5
1,093.1
748.6
Trade receivables
86.8
452.8
378.4
Inventories
2.3
12.2
11.8
Recoverable taxes
5.3
27.8
25.6
Other assets
9.9
51.8
42.5
Total current assets
313.8
1,637.6
1,206.9
Non-current assets
Trade receivables
8.2
42.6
27.4
Other assets
36.8
191.8
180.3
Investment in associate
103.9
542.1
48.4
Property and equipment
10.3
53.9
419.8
Right-of-use assets
132.3
690.1
663.7
Intangible assets
774.5
4,041.5
3,900.9
Total non-current assets
1,066.1
5,562.0
5,240.5
Total assets
1,379.9
7,199.6
6,447.4
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade payables
13.7
71.5
59.1
Loans and financing
27.8
145.2
128.7
Lease liabilities
6.2
32.5
25.0
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
50.2
261.7
239.8
Notes payable
11.9
62.2
14.5
Advances from customers
25.5
133.1
114.6
Labor and social obligations
29.6
154.5
131.3
Taxes payable
5.0
26.2
26.7
Income taxes payable
3.1
16.2
11.6
Other liabilities
0.6
2.7
15.2
Total current liabilities
173.5
905.8
766.5
Non-current liabilities
Loans and financing
333.0
1,737.7
1,246.2
Lease liabilities
141.3
737.1
689.1
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
51.2
267.0
440.0
Notes payable
—
—
58.2
Taxes payable
17.8
92.9
96.6
Provision for legal proceedings
37.5
195.9
148.3
Other liabilities
2.5
13.2
2.5
Total non-current liabilities
583.3
3,043.8
2,680.9
Total liabilities
756.8
3,949.6
3,447.4
Equity
Additional paid-in capital
455.2
2,375.3
2,375.3
Share-based compensation reserve
23.7
123.5
94.1
Treasury stock
(58.4)
(304.9)
(152.6)
Earnings reserves
192.6
1,004.9
631.3
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
613.1
3,198.8
2,948.1
Non-controlling interests
9.8
51.3
51.9
Total equity
622.9
3,250.1
3,000.0
Total liabilities and equity
1,379.7
7,199.7
6,447.4
(1) For convenience purposes only, amounts in reais as of December 31, 2022 have been translated to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of R$5.218 to US$1.00, the commercial
selling rate for U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022, as reported by the Central Bank. These translations should not be considered representations that any such amounts have
been, could have been or could be converted at that or any other exchange rate. See "—Exchange Rates” for further information about recent fluctuations in exchange rates.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This annual report presents our Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Cash Conversion Ratio information for the convenience of investors, which are non-GAAP financial
measures. A non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined as one that purports to measure financial performance but excludes or includes amounts that would not be so
adjusted in the most comparable GAAP measure. Although Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Cash Conversion Ratio are used by investors and securities analysts in their
evaluation of companies, these measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for the IFRS measures of earnings.
Additionally, our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Cash Conversion Ratio may be different from the calculations used by other companies, including our
competitors in the education services industry, and therefore, our measures may not be comparable to those of other companies.
We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe this measure provides investors with a supplemental measure of the financial performance of our core operations that
facilitates period-to-period comparisons on a consistent basis. We calculate our Adjusted EBITDA as net income plus/minus finance result plus income taxes expense plus
depreciation and amortization plus interest received on late payments of monthly tuition fees, minus income share associate, plus share-based compensation expense plus/minus
non-recurring expenses.
We also present Operating Cash Conversion Ratio because we believe this measure provides investors with a measure of how efficiently we convert our EBITDA into cash.
We calculate our Operating Cash Conversion Ratio as the cash flows from operations plus/minus income taxes paid divided by Adjusted EBITDA plus/minus non-recurring
expenses.
The following tables set forth the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation to our net income and the Operating Cash Conversion Ratio reconciliation to our cash flow from operations
for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, in each case, our most recent directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS.
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Reconciliation between Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2022
2021
2020
(in US$
millions(1))
(in R$ millions)
Net income
75.3
392.6
242.3
308.0
Finance result
47.5
247.9
179.2
36.0
Income taxes expense
6.8
35.7
31.2
27.1
Depreciation and amortization
39.5
206.2
154.2
108.7
Interest received(2)
5.2
27.2
23.0
11.9
Income share associate
(2.3)
(12.2)
(11.8)
(7.7)
Share-based compensation expense
6.0
31.3
43.4
32.6
Non-recurring expenses(3):
Integration of new companies(4)
4.7
24.8
18.9
9.8
M&A advisory and due diligence(5)
0.5
2.5
13.5
6.2
Expansion projects(6)
0.7
3.4
10.2
18.1
Restructuring expenses(7)
2.4
12.3
17.4
5.9
Mandatory discounts in tuition fees(8)
(1.9)
(9.9)
33.4
6.5
Adjusted EBITDA
184.4
962.1
754.9
563.1
(1) For convenience purposes only, amounts in reais for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been translated to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of R$5.218 to US$1.00, the
commercial selling rate for U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022, as reported by the Central Bank. These translations should not be considered representations that any such
amounts have been, could have been or could be converted at that or any other exchange rate. See "—Exchange Rates” for further information about recent fluctuations in
exchange rates.
(2) Consists of interest received on late payments of monthly tuition fees.
(3) We believe these adjustments are appropriate to provide additional information to investors about certain material non-cash or non-recurring items that we do not expect to
continue at the same level in the future.
(4) Consists of expenses related to the integration of recently acquired companies, such as expenses with personnel and third party consulting firms.
(5) Consists of expenses related to professional and consultant fees in connection with due diligence services for our M&A transactions.
(6) Consists of expenses related to professional and consultant fees in connection with the opening of new campuses.
(7) Consists of expenses related to the employee redundancies in connection with the organizational restructuring of our acquired companies.
(8) Consists of mandatory discounts in tuition fees granted by state decrees and individual/collective legal proceedings and public civil proceedings due to COVID 19 on-site
class restriction, and excludes any recovery of these discounts that were invoiced based on the decision by the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal),
or the Brazilian Supreme Court, with respect to this matter.
Reconciliation between Cash Flow from Operations and Operating Cash Conversion Ratio
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2022
2021
2020
(in US$
millions(1))
(in R$ millions)
(except percentages)
Net cash flows from operating activities
161.7
843.9
630.8
371.5
Income taxes paid
6.3
33.1
35.7
19.4
Net cash flows from operating activities, before income taxes paid
168.1
877.0
666.5
390.9
Adjusted EBITDA
184.4
962.1
754.9
563.1
Integration of new companies(2)
4.7
24.8
18.9
9.8
M&A advisory and due diligence(3)
0.5
2.5
13.5
6.2
Expansion projects(4)
0.7
3.4
10.2
18.1
Restructuring expenses(5)
2.4
12.4
17.4
5.9
Mandatory discounts in tuition fees(6)
(1.9)
(9.9)
33.4
6.5
Adjusted EBITDA ex. non-recurring expenses
178.0
928.8
661.4
516.6
Operating Cash Conversion Ratio(7)
94.4%
94.4%
100.8%
75.7%
(1) For convenience purposes only, amounts in reais for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been translated to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of R$5.218 to US$1.00, the
commercial selling rate for U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022, as reported by the Central Bank. These translations should not be considered representations that any such
amounts have been, could have been or could be converted at that or any other exchange rate. See "—Exchange Rates” for further information about recent fluctuations in
exchange rates.
(2) Consists of expenses related to the integration of recently acquired companies, such as expenses with personnel and third-party consulting firms.
(3) Consists of expenses related to professional and consultant fees in connection with due diligence services for our M&A transactions.
(4) Consists of expenses related to professional and consultant fees in connection with the opening of new campuses.
(5) Consists of expenses related to the employee redundancies in connection with the organizational restructuring of our acquired companies.
(6) Consists of mandatory discounts in tuition fees granted by state decrees and individual/collective legal proceedings and public civil proceedings due to COVID 19 on-site
class restriction, and excludes any recovery of these discounts that were invoiced based on the decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court with respect to this matter.
(7) We calculate Operating Cash Conversion Ratio as the cash flows from operations plus/minus income taxes paid divided by Adjusted EBITDA plus/minus non-recurring
expenses.
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Operating Data (Historical)
Key Revenue Drivers – Undergrad Segment
As of and For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
UNDERGRAD SEGMENT
Medical School
Approved Seats(1)
2,823
2,731
2,143
Operating Seats(1)
2,773
2,481
1,893
Total Students (end of period)
17,968
16,017
11,030
Average Total Students
17,761
14,492
9,413
Average Total Students (ex-Acquisitions)(2)
15,883
10,872
9,413
Tuition Fees (Total) (in R$ thousands)
2,032,888
1,511,442
910,966
Tuition Fees (ex-Acquisitions) (in R$ thousands)(2)
1,791,590
1,123,944
910,966
Medical School Gross Avg. Ticket (ex-Acquisitions)(R$/month)(2)(3)
9,400
8,615
8,065
Medical School Net Avg. Ticket (ex-Acquisitions)(R$/month)(2)(4)
7,896
6,433
N/A
Undergraduate Health Science
Total Students (end of period)
17,967
19,882
10,325
Average Total Students
19,441
15,918
10,733
Average Total Students (ex-Acquisitions)(2)
15,293
11,173
10,733
Tuition Fees (Total) (in R$ thousands)
336,238
239,512
152,539
Tuition Fees (ex-Acquisitions) (in R$ thousands)(2)
249,550
148,381
152,539
Other Undergraduate
Total Students (end of period)
22,265
25,219
14,851
Average Total Students
23,376
20,198
14,087
Average Total Students (ex-Acquisitions)(2)
16,209
10,734
14,087
Tuition Fees (Total)(in R$ thousands)
266,306
239,235
172,961
Tuition Fees (ex-Acquisitions)(in R$ thousands)(2)
200,690
147,239
172,961
Total Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees (Total)(in R$ thousands)
2,635,432
1,990,189
1,236,466
Tuition Fees (ex-Acquisitions)(in R$ thousands)(2)
2,241,830
1,419,574
1,236,466
Revenue
Revenue (Total)(in R$ thousands)
2,037,889
1,498,408
1,002,461
Revenue (ex-Acquisitions)(in R$ thousands)(2)
1,777,484
1,136,404
1,002,461
(1) Approved Seats and Operating Seats do not include the acquisition of UNIT Alagoas and FITS Jaboatão dos Guararapes, which closed on January 2, 2023.
(2) Ex-Acquisitions” figures accounts for revenue received by our acquired companies in a given period only after the date of their acquisition, i.e. for a period of less than 12
months, and excludes any revenue prior to such date. For the year ended December 31, 2022, "ex-Acquisitions” excludes: UNIFIPMoc and FIPGuanambi (from January to May
2022; closing of the UNIFIPMoc and FIPGuanambi acquisitions was in June 2021); Unigranrio (from January to July 2022; closing of the Unigranrio acquisition was in August
2021); and Garanhuns (from January to October 2022; closing of the Garanhuns acquisition was in November 2021). For the year ended December 31, 2021, "ex-Acquisitions”
excludes: UniRedentor (for January 2021; closing of the UniRedentor acquisition was on January 31, 2020); UniSL (from January to April 2021; closing of the UniSL acquisition
was in May 2020); FCMPB (from January to October 2021; closing of the FCMPB acquisition was in November 2020); FESAR (from January to October 2021; closing of the
FESAR acquisition was in November 2020); UNIFIPMoc and FIPGuanambi (from June to December 2021; closing of the UNIFIPMoc and FIPGuanambi acquisitions was in
June 2021); Unigranrio (from August to December 2021; closing of the Unigranrio acquisition was in August 2021); and Garanhuns (from November to December 2021; closing
of the Garanhuns acquisition was in November 2021).
(3) Medical School Gross Avg. Ticket (ex-Acquisitions) is calculated as Tuition Fees (ex-Acquisitions) divided by the Average Total Students (ex-Acquisitions), divided by the
number of months in the period.
(4) Medical School Net Average Ticket (ex-Acquisitions) disclosure is presented beginning with the year ended December 31, 2021 (and future periods), as information for
calculation of this metric is not available for prior periods.
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Table of Contents
Key Revenue Drivers – Continuing Education Segment
As of and For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
CONTINUING EDUCATION SEGMENT
Medical Specialization & Others
Total Students (end of period)
4,280
3,189
4,181
Average Total Students
3,835
3,252
4,266
Average Total Students (ex-Acquisitions)
3,835
3,064
4,266
Revenue (Total)(in R$ thousands)
108,806
72,983
107,196
Revenue (ex-Acquisitions)(in R$ thousands)(1)
108,806
70,822
107,196
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2021, "ex-Acquisitions” excludes UniRedentor (for January 2021; closing of the UniRedentor acquisition was on January 31, 2020).
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Key Revenue Drivers – Digital Services Segment
As of and For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
DIGITAL SERVICES SEGMENT
Content & Technology for Medical Education
Medcel Active Payers
Prep Courses & CME - B2P
14,569
17,171
11,316
Prep Courses & CME - B2B
5,887
4,460
1,723
Além da Medicina Active Payers
6,081
—
—
Cardio Papers Active Payers
5,034
—
—
Medical Harbour Active Payers
7,668
—
—
Clinical Decision Software
Whitebook Active Payers
137,767
125,372
106,977
Clinical Management Tools(2)
iClinic Active Payers
22,764
17,978
—
Shosp Active Payers
2,915
2,305
—
Digital Services Total Active Payers (end of period)
202,685
167,286
120,016
Revenue (Total)(in R$ thousands)
189,984
151,958
93,152
Revenue - B2P (in R$ thousands)
166,515
142,716
—
Revenue - B2B (in R$ thousands)
23,469
9,242
—
Revenue (ex-Acquisitions)(in R$ thousands)(1)
157,943
99,003
93,152
(1) "Ex-Acquisitions” figures accounts for revenue received by our acquired companies in a given period only after the date of their acquisition, i.e. for a period of less than 12
months, and excludes any revenue prior to such date. For the year ended December 31, 2022, "ex-Acquisitions” excludes: iClinic (for January 2022; closing of the iClinic
acquisition was in January 2021); Medicinae (from January to March 2022; closing of the Medicinae acquisition was in March 2021); Medical Harbour (from January to April
2022; closing of the Medical Harbour acquisition was in April 2021); Cliquefarma (from January to April 2022; closing of the Cliquefarma acquisition was in April 2021); Shosp
(from January to May 2022; closing of the Shosp acquisition was in May 2021); RX PRO (from January to September, 2022; closing of the RX PRO acquisition was in October
2021); and Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers and Glic (all from January to December, 2022; closing of the Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers and Glic acquisitions only occurred
in 2022). For the year ended December 31, 2021, "ex-Acquisitions” excludes: PEBMED (from January to July 2021; closing of the PEBMED acquisition was in July 2020);
MedPhone (from January to October 2021; closing of the MedPhone acquisition was in November 2020); iClinic (from January to December 2021; closing of the iClinic
acquisition was in January 2021); Medicinae (from March to December 2021; closing of the Medicinae acquisition was in March 2021); Medical Harbour (from April to
December 2021; closing of the Medical Harbour acquisition was in April 2021); Cliquefarma (from April to December 2021; closing of the Cliquefarma acquisition was in April
2021); Shosp (from May to December 2021; closing of the Shosp acquisition was in May 2021); and RX PRO (from October to December 2021; closing of the RX PRO
acquisition was in October 2021).
(2) Clinical management tools include our telemedicine and digital prescription features.
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Key Operational Drivers – Digital Services Segment – Monthly Active Users (MaU)
As of and For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
DIGITAL SERVICES SEGMENT
Content & Technology for Medical Education
16,539
16,205
14,658
Clinical Decision Software
221,762
194,308
162,512
Clinical Management Tools(1)
20,936
37,030
—
Physician-Patient Relationship
1,473
—
—
Total Monthly Active Users (MaU) - Digital Services(2)
260,710
247,543
177,170
(1) Clinical management tools include our telemedicine and digital prescription features and, beginning in the year ended December 31, 2022, excludes users other than payors.
(2) Monthly Active Users (MaU) represents the number of unique individuals that consumed digital services content in each one of our products in the last 30 days of a specific
period, and includes MaU from Shosp, Medicinae, Além da Medicina, Cardipapers and Glic beginning in the year ended December 31, 2022.
Revenue and Revenue Mix
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2022 Ex
Acquisitions(1)
2021
% Change
% Change Ex
Acquisitions(1)
(in R$ millions)
Revenue Mix
Undergrad
2,037.9
1,777.5
1,498.4
36.0%
18.6%
Adjusted Undergrad(2)
2,028.0
1,767.6
1,531.8
32.4%
15.4%
Continuing Education
108.8
108.8
73.0
49.1%
49.1%
Digital Services
190.0
157.9
152.0
25.0%
3.9%
Inter-segment transactions
(7.6)
(7.6)
4.0
91.6%
91.6%
Total Reported Revenue
2,329.1
2,036.6
1,719.4
35.5%
18.5%
(1) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, "ex-Acquisitions” excludes: UNIFIPMoc and FIPGuanambi (from January to May, 2022; closing of UNIFIPMoc and FIPGuanambi
was in June 2021), UNIGRANRIO (from January to July 2022; closing of UNIGRANRIO was in August 2021), Garanhuns (from January to October, 2022; closing of Garanhuns
was in November 2021), iClinic (only January 2022; closing of iClinic was in January 2021), Medicinae (from January to March 2022; closing of Medicinae was in March 2021),
Medical Harbour (from January to April 2022; closing of Medical Harbour was in April 2021), Cliquefarma (from January to April 2022; closing of Cliquefarma was in April
2021), Shosp (from January to May 2022; closing of Shosp was in May 2021), RX PRO (from January to September, 2022; closing of RX PRO was in October 2021), and Além da
Medicina, Cardiopapers and Glic (all from January to December, 2022; closing of Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers, and Glic were in 2022).
(2) Includes mandatory discounts in tuition fees granted by state decrees and individual/collective legal proceedings and public civil proceedings due to COVID 19 on-site class
restriction, and excludes any recovery of these discounts that were invoiced based on the decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court with respect to this matter.
Exchange Rates
The Brazilian foreign exchange system allows the purchase and sale of foreign currency and the international transfer of reais by any person or legal entity, regardless of the
amount, subject to certain regulatory procedures.
The real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$4.031 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2019, which reflected a 4.0% depreciation in the real against the U.S.
dollar during 2019. The real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$5.196 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2020, which reflected a 28.9% depreciation in the real
against the U.S. dollar during 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the exchange rate for the sale of U.S. dollars as reported by the Central Bank was R$5.580 per US$1.00, which reflected
a 7.3% depreciation in the real against the U.S. during 2021. On December 31, 2022, the exchange rate of U.S. dollar as reported by the Central Bank was R$5.218 per US$1.00, which
reflected a 6.5% appreciation in the real against the U.S. dollar since December 31, 2021. As of April 26, 2023, the exchange rate for the sale of U.S. dollars as reported by the Central
Bank was R$5.059 per US$1.00, which reflected an appreciation of 3.1% in the real against the U.S. dollar since December 31, 2022. There can be no assurance that the real will not
again depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar or other currencies in the future.
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The Central Bank has intervened occasionally in the foreign exchange market to attempt to control instability in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Central
Bank or the Brazilian government will continue to allow the real to float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market by re-implementing a currency band system or otherwise.
The real may depreciate or appreciate substantially against the U.S. dollar in the future. Furthermore, Brazilian law provides that, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s
balance of payments or there are serious reasons to foresee a serious imbalance, temporary restrictions may be imposed on remittances of foreign capital abroad. We cannot assure
you that the Brazilian government will not place restrictions on remittances of foreign capital abroad in the future.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high, low, average and period-end exchange rates for the purchase of U.S. dollars expressed in Brazilian reais per
U.S. dollar. The monthly and annual average rates are calculated by using the average of reported exchange rates by the Central Bank on each day during a monthly period and on
the last day of each month during an annual period, respectively.
Year
Period-end
Average(1)
Low(2)
High(3)
2018
3.875
3.656
3.139
4.188
2019
4.031
3.946
3.652
4.260
2020
5.196
5.158
4.021
5.937
2021
5.580
5.395
4.920
5.839
2022
5.218
5.165
4.618
5.704
Source: Central Bank.
(1) Represents the average of the exchange rates on the closing of each day during the year.
(2) Represents the minimum of the exchange rates on the closing of each day during the year.
(3) Represents the maximum of the exchange rates on the closing of each day during the year.
Month
Period-end
Average(1)
Low(2)
High(3)
October 2022
5.345
5.250
5.141
5.345
November 2022
5.294
5.275
5.036
5.466
December 2022
5.218
5.242
5.145
5.341
January 2023
5.099
5.201
5.077
5.446
February 2023
5.208
5.172
4.990
5.253
March 2023
5.080
5.211
5.080
5.298
April 2023 (through April 26, 2023)
5.059
5.021
4.910
5.083
Source: Central Bank.
(1) Represents the average of the exchange rates on the closing of each day during the month.
(2) Represents the minimum of the exchange rates on the closing of each day during the month.
(3) Represents the maximum of the exchange rates on the closing of each day during the month.
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
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C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D. Risk Factors
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our Class A common shares is subject to a number of risks, including risks relating to our business and industry, risks relating to Brazil and risks relating to
our Class A common shares. The following list summarizes some, but not all, of these risks. Please read the information in the section entitled "Risk Factors” for a more thorough
description of these and other risks.
Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
·
We may not be able to identify and acquire new medical higher education institutions or meet our strategic and financial goals in connection with any business
acquisition we seek, and difficulties in effectively integrating and managing a growing number of acquisitions may adversely affect our strategic objectives. We expect
to continue to acquire medical higher education institutions and healthtech companies as part of our strategy to expand our operations, including through acquisitions
that may be material in size and/or of strategic relevance. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be able to identify post-secondary education institutions focused
on medicine that provide suitable acquisition opportunities, or to acquire such institutions on favorable terms when necessary. In addition, we may face significant
challenges in the process of integrating the operations of any acquired companies with our existing business, such as the inability to manage a greater number of
geographically dispersed employees and create and implement efficient uniform controls, procedures and policies, in addition to the incurrence of high or unexpected
integration costs.
·
We may require additional funds to continue our expansion strategy. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing on favorable terms to complete any potential
acquisition and implement our expansion plans, our growth strategy may be materially and adversely affected. If adequate funds are not available or are not available
on acceptable terms, we may not be able to fund our expansion, take advantage of acquisition opportunities, develop or enhance our portfolio of products and services or
respond to competitive pressures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
·
Our revenues are highly concentrated in the tuition fees we charge for our medical courses and other health sciences programs, and any economic, market or
regulatory factors adversely affecting such medical courses and health sciences programs could lead to decreased demand in the medical and health courses we offer,
which could materially adversely affect us. Economic, market or regulatory factors affecting either the amount of tuition fees we are able to charge for the medical courses
and health sciences programs we offer or the ability of our students to pay such tuition fees could result in significantly decreased demand for our services.
·
Changes to the rules or delays or suspension of tuition payments made through FIES may adversely affect our cash flows and our business. We are subject to the risks
associated with delays in the transfer of monthly tuition payments from the FIES program operated by the Brazilian federal government, as well as to changes to the rules
to renew FIES contracts.
·
If we lose the benefits of federal tax exemptions provided under the PROUNI program, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially
adversely affected. We may be disqualified from the PROUNI program and lose our tax exemptions if we do not comply with certain requirements, such as providing total
or partial scholarships for a percentage of students who paid their tuition in the previous year, granting partial scholarships, and submitting to MEC semi-annual records
of attendance, achievement and dropout of students receiving scholarships, among others.
·
Our operating history as a consolidated company, our recent acquisitions and the comparability of our results may make it difficult for investors to evaluate our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Because the historical information included elsewhere in this annual report may not be
representative of our results as a consolidated company, investors may have limited financial information on which to evaluate us, their investment decision and our
prior performance.
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·
An increase in delays and/or defaults in the payment of tuition fees may adversely affect our income and cash flows. We depend on the full and timely payment of the
tuition we charge our students, including tuition payments we receive through FIES, which is largely outside of our control.
Certain Risks Relating to Brazil
·
The Brazilian federal government has exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over the Brazilian economy. This involvement as well as Brazil’s
political and economic conditions could harm us and the price of our Class A common shares. The Brazilian government’s actions to control inflation and other policies
and regulations have often involved, among other measures, increases or decreases in interest rates, changes in fiscal policies, wage and price controls, foreign exchange
rate controls, blocking access to bank accounts, currency devaluations, capital controls and import and export restrictions. Uncertainty over whether the Brazilian federal
government will implement reforms or changes in policy or regulation affecting these or other factors in the future may affect economic performance and contribute to
economic uncertainty in Brazil.
·
Economic uncertainty and political instability in Brazil may harm our business and the price of our Class A common shares. Political crises have affected and continue
to affect the confidence of investors and the general public, which have historically resulted in economic deceleration and heightened volatility in the securities offered by
companies with significant operations in Brazil.
·
Inflation and certain measures by the Brazilian government to curb inflation have historically harmed the Brazilian economy and Brazilian capital markets, and high
levels of inflation in the future would harm our business and the price of our Class A common shares. Inflation, policies adopted to curb inflationary pressures and
uncertainties regarding possible future governmental intervention have contributed to economic uncertainty and heightened volatility in the Brazilian capital markets.
·
Exchange rate instability may have adverse effects on the Brazilian economy, us and the price of our Class A common shares. The Brazilian government has
implemented various economic plans and used various exchange rate policies, including sudden devaluations, periodic mini-devaluations (during which the frequency of
adjustments has ranged from daily to monthly), exchange controls, dual exchange rate markets and a floating exchange rate system. In addition, domestic and international
reactions to restrictive economic policies could have a negative impact on the Brazilian economy.
·
Infrastructure and workforce deficiency in Brazil may impact economic growth and have a material adverse effect on us. Growth is limited by inadequate infrastructure,
including potential energy shortages and deficient transportation, logistics and telecommunication sectors, general strikes, the lack of a qualified labor force, and the lack
of private and public investments in these areas, which limit productivity and efficiency.
·
Developments and the perceptions of risks in other countries, including other emerging markets, the United States and Europe, may harm the Brazilian economy and
the price of our Class A common shares. The market for securities offered by companies with significant operations in Brazil is influenced by economic and market
conditions in Brazil and, to varying degrees, market conditions in other Latin American and emerging markets, as well as the United States, Europe and other countries. To
the extent the conditions of the global markets or economy deteriorate, the business of companies with significant operations in Brazil may be harmed.
Certain Risks Relating to Our Class A Common Shares
·
An active trading market for our Class A common shares may not be sustainable. If an active trading market is not maintained, investors may not be able to resell their
shares and our ability to raise capital in the future may be impaired. Although our Class A common shares are listed and being traded on the Nasdaq Global Select
Market, an active trading market for our shares may not be maintained. The stock market in general has experienced substantial price and volume fluctuations that have
often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies affected.
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·
The concentration of ownership and voting power in Bertelsmann, our controlling shareholder, limits your ability to influence corporate matters. Bertelsmann, our
controlling shareholder, owns 63.5% of our outstanding Class B common shares as of the date of this annual report, which, together with its ownership of 20.4% of our
outstanding Class A common shares, represent approximately 41.5% of our issued share capital and 59.4% of the voting power of our issued share capital, and, together
with the Esteves Family, controls all matters requiring shareholder approval. This concentration of ownership and voting power limits your ability to influence corporate
matters. The decisions of Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family on these matters may be contrary to your expectations or preferences, and they may take actions that could
be contrary to your interests. So long as Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family continue to beneficially own a sufficient number of Class B common shares, even if they
beneficially own significantly less than 50% of our outstanding share capital, acting together, they will be able to effectively control the outcome of all decisions at our
shareholders’ meetings.
·
Class A common shares eligible for future sale may cause the market price of our Class A common shares to drop significantly. The market price of our Class A common
shares may decline as a result of sales of a large number of our Class A common shares in the market (including Class A common shares issuable upon conversion of
Class B common shares) or the perception that these sales may occur. Our shareholders or entities controlled by them or their permitted transferees will be able to sell their
shares in the public market from time to time without registering them, subject to certain limitations on the timing, amount and method of those sales imposed by
regulations promulgated by the SEC.
·
Our Articles of Association contain anti-takeover provisions that may discourage a third party from acquiring us and adversely affect the rights of holders of our Class
A common shares. Our Articles of Association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire our control, including a provision that grants
authority to our board of directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders and to determine,
with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series.
·
If securities or industry analysts publish inaccurate or unfavorable research, about our business, the price of our Class A common shares and our trading volume
could decline. The trading market for our Class A common shares will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our
business, our market or our competitors. In the event one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades us or releases negative publicity about our Class A common
shares, our share price would likely decline.
·
It is unlikely that we will declare any dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future and therefore, you must rely on price appreciation of our common
shares for a return on your investment. We do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Instead, we intend to retain earnings, if any, to fund the
operation of our business and future growth. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our general meeting of
shareholders, acting pursuant to a proposal by our board of directors, or by our board, and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash
requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors.
·
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year, which could subject United States investors in our
Class A common shares to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. Based on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets,
including goodwill (the implied value of which we estimate based on the price of our Class A common shares), we believe that we were not a PFIC for the taxable year of
2022. However, because we hold a substantial amount of cash (relative to the assets shown on our balance sheet) and because our PFIC status for any taxable year will
depend on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which may be determined, in part, by reference to the market price of
our Class A common shares, which could be volatile), there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.
Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
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We may not be able to identify and acquire new medical higher education institutions or meet our strategic and financial goals in connection with any business acquisition
we seek, and difficulties in effectively integrating and managing a growing number of acquisitions may adversely affect our strategic objectives.
We expect to continue to acquire medical higher education institutions, as part of our strategy to expand our operations, including through acquisitions that may be material in
size and/or of strategic relevance, and healthtech companies, as part of our strategy to become the partner of choice for every physician in Brazil not only through educational
products, but also providing digital services relevant to their daily routine. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be able to identify post-secondary education institutions
focused on medicine that provide suitable acquisition opportunities, or to acquire such institutions on favorable terms when necessary.
In addition, our previous and any future acquisitions involve a number of risks and challenges that may have a material adverse effect on our business and results, including
the following:
·
the acquisition may not contribute to our commercial strategy or the image of our institution;
·
a future acquisition may be subject to approval by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica, or CADE) or
other regulatory authorities, which may deny the necessary approvals for, or impose conditions or restrictions on, the acquisition;
·
we may face contingent and/or successor liabilities (either currently known or unknown to us) in connection with, among others things, (i) judicial and/or administrative
proceedings of the acquired institutions, including but not limited to, regulatory, tax, labor, social security, environmental and intellectual property proceedings, and
(ii) financial, reputational and technical issues, including with respect to accounting practices, financial statement disclosures and internal controls, as well as other
regulatory matters, all of which may not be sufficiently indemnifiable under the relevant acquisition agreement;
·
the acquisition process may require additional funds and/or may be time-consuming, and the attention of our management may be diverted from their day-to-day
responsibilities and our operations;
·
our investments in acquisitions may not generate the expected returns, and we may mismanage administrative and financial resources as part of the integration process;
·
the business model of the institutions we acquire may differ from ours, and we may be unable to adapt them to our business model or do so efficiently;
·
we may not be able to integrate efficiently and successfully the operations of the institutions we acquire, including their personnel, financial systems, distribution or
operating procedures;
·
certain acquisitions may impact our financial reporting obligations and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, resulting in delays to such preparation;
·
the acquisitions may generate goodwill, the impairment of which will result in the reduction of our net income and dividends, and our financial statements may be affected
as a result of the application of our accounting policies to the results of our acquisitions;
·
the transfer of management of the target institution resulting from a change of control or corporate restructuring must be notified to the MEC within 60 days from the
consummation of the acquisition, and MEC may impose additional restrictions on its reaccreditation; and
·
we may be unable to provide the acquired company with the necessary resources to support its operations and if, by the time of the reaccreditation of the acquired
company with the MEC, the MEC finds that we have failed to meet any applicable reaccreditation requirements, it may impose additional restrictions or conditions on the
reaccreditation of the acquired company.
In addition, we may face significant challenges in the process of integrating the operations of any acquired companies with our existing business, such as the inability to
manage a greater number of geographically dispersed employees and create and implement efficient uniform controls, procedures and policies, in addition to the incurrence of high
or unexpected integration costs. As of the date of this annual report: (i) we have fully integrated the operations of 20 of our acquisitions; and (ii) we are in the process of
integrating the operations of another 10 of our acquisitions with our existing business, namely, Shosp, Cliquefarma, Medical Harbour, Medicinae, iClinic, RX PRO, Além da
Medicina, Cardiopapers, Glic and DelRey. The anticipated benefits of the acquisitions we may pursue will not be achieved unless we successfully and efficiently integrate the
acquired companies into our operations and effectively manage, market and apply our business strategy to them. We may also be unable to integrate faculty and personnel with
different professional experiences and from different corporate cultures, and our relationship with current and new employees, including professors, may be impaired.
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We may require additional funds to continue our expansion strategy. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing on favorable terms to complete any potential
acquisition and implement our expansion plans, our growth strategy may be materially and adversely affected.
In the future, we may need to raise additional capital to fund our expansion (organically or through strategic acquisitions), to obtain new licenses or develop new or enhanced
products or services or to respond to competitive pressures. Our ability to raise additional funds will depend on financial, economic and other factors, many of which are beyond
our control. For example, financial markets have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and current macroeconomic trends, including high interest rates, rising
inflation, and more recently, the government closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and liquidity concerns at other financial institutions, and concerns regarding the
potential for local and/or global economic recession. Adequate funding may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all, particularly in light of these conditions. If adequate
funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to fund our expansion, take advantage of acquisition opportunities, develop or enhance our
portfolio of products and services or respond to competitive pressures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. If
we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, our shareholders will experience dilution and the securities that we issue may have rights,
preferences and privileges senior to those of our shares.
Moreover, any additional funds raised through debt financing will likely require our compliance with restrictive covenants that impose operating and financial restrictions on
us, including restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens, make acquisitions, dispose of assets and make restricted payments, among others. In
addition, such indebtedness may require us to maintain certain financial ratios. These restrictions may limit our ability to obtain future financings, to withstand a future downturn in
our business or the economy in general, or to otherwise conduct necessary corporate activities. A breach of any such covenant would likely result in a default under the applicable
agreement, which, if not waived, could result in acceleration of the indebtedness outstanding. For more information, see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness.”
Our revenues are highly concentrated in the tuition fees we charge for our medical courses and other health sciences programs, and any economic, market or regulatory
factors adversely affecting such medical courses and health sciences programs could lead to decreased demand in the medical and health courses we offer, which could
materially adversely affect us.
A significant portion of our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees are currently concentrated in the tuition fees we charge for our medical courses and other
health sciences programs across our network. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, 89.9%, 88.0% and 86.0%, respectively, of total historical undergraduate
programs combined tuition fees were derived from tuition fees we or our subsidiaries charged for medical courses and other health sciences programs. Therefore, economic, market
or regulatory factors affecting either the amount of tuition fees we are able to charge for the medical courses and health sciences programs we offer or the ability of our students to
pay such tuition fees could result in significantly decreased demand for our services, which could materially adversely affect us.
Changes to the rules or delays or suspension of tuition payments made through FIES may adversely affect our cash flows and our business.
Some of our students finance their tuition fees through the Higher Education Student Financing Fund (Fundo de Financiamento ao Estudante do Ensino Superior, or FIES)
created by the Brazilian federal government, and operated through the National Fund for Educational Development (Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Educação, or FNDE),
which offers financing to low-income students enrolled in undergraduate programs in private higher education institutions. As of 2018, we have adhered to the "New FIES,” a new
federal program aimed at providing student financing. Similar to the FIES, the New FIES provides financial support for low-income students throughout Brazil, in particular in the
North, Northeast and Midwest regions. As a result, our exposure to the risks associated with delays in the transfer of monthly tuition payments from the FIES program operated by
the Brazilian federal government, which we calculate by dividing the sum of the historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees financed through FIES by total historical
undergraduate programs combined tuition fees, was 8.3%, 8.0% and 11.8% of total historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020,
respectively.
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Should (i) the Brazilian federal government terminate or reduce the transfer of monthly payments to our institutions that participate in FIES or New FIES, (ii) the students
benefiting from FIES or New FIES fail to meet the requirements for enrollment in the programs or (iii) the Brazilian federal government extend the term to make reimbursements under
FIES or New FIES or adversely change their rules, our results of operations and cash flow may be materially adversely affected. We may also experience a decline in revenues and a
decline in the number of students at our campuses from the FIES and the New FIES programs.
Moreover, recent changes to the rules to renew FIES contracts, as well as the shutdown of the system to enter into new student financing agreements, may negatively affect
the number of students enrolled in our courses, causing a reduction in our revenues. For more information regarding the changes to FIES contracts, see "Item 4. Information on the
Company—Business Overview—Regulatory Overview.”
If we lose the benefits of federal tax exemptions provided under the PROUNI program, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially
adversely affected.
Some of our students participate in the University for All Program (Programa Universidade para Todos, or PROUNI program). Through the PROUNI program, the Brazilian
federal government grants a number of full and partial scholarships to low-income post-secondary education students. As a result of our participation in the PROUNI program, we
benefit from certain federal tax exemptions relating to bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs, such as (i) income tax, (ii) Social Contribution Tax on Gross Revenue (Programa
de Integração Social, or PIS), (iii) Social Security Financing Tax on Gross Revenue (Contribuição para o Financiamento da Seguridade Social, or COFINS), and (iv) Social
Contribution Tax on Net Profit (Contribuição Social sobre o Lucro Líquido, or CSLL), regarding our revenues from undergraduate and associate programs.
We may be disqualified from the PROUNI program and lose our tax exemptions if we do not comply with certain requirements, such as providing total or partial scholarships
for a percentage of students who paid their tuition in the previous year, granting partial scholarships, and submitting to MEC semi-annual records of attendance, achievement and
dropout of students receiving scholarships, among others. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Regulatory Overview.” If we lose our tax exemptions
or are unable to comply with other, more stringent requirements that may be introduced in the future, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially
adversely affected.
There is a risk that additional changes in tax laws may prohibit, interrupt or modify the use of existing tax exemptions, and we cannot assure you that we will fully maintain
such tax and other benefits related to PROUNI in the event the tax laws are amended further. Any suspension, accelerated default, repayment or inability to renew our tax
exemptions may have an adverse effect on our results of operations. As of the date of this annual report, there are two main proposed tax law amendments that are under review by
the Brazilian congress: (i) Bill No. 3,887/2020, which expressly revokes the PIS and COFINS tax exemptions for the PROUNI program; and (ii) Constitutional Amendment Proposal
No. 45/2020, which proposes a new tax to substitute PIS and COFINS (and other state and municipal taxes) with no tax exemptions. If we lose our tax exemptions and incentives, if
we are unable to comply with future requirements or if changes in the law limit our ability to maintain these tax benefits, our business, financial condition and results of operations
may be significantly and adversely affected.
Our operating history as a consolidated company, our recent acquisitions and the comparability of our results may make it difficult for investors to evaluate our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our operating history as a consolidated company and recent acquisitions may make it difficult for you to evaluate our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects. Because the historical information included elsewhere in this annual report may not be representative of our results as a consolidated company, investors may have
limited financial information on which to evaluate us, their investment decision and our prior performance. Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 are not
directly comparable to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 are not directly
comparable to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, due to the effects of the acquisition of the Acquired Companies. Our ability to forecast our future
operating results, including revenue, cash flows and profitability, as well as the operational inefficiencies that we may face as we continue to integrate the Acquired Companies, is
limited and subject to a number of uncertainties. Moreover, past performance is no assurance of future returns.
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We do not currently control some of our equity investments, which could adversely affect our ability to commercialize our products.
We acquire interests in third parties for the expansion, development or commercialization of our products. Currently, we have a 30.0% interest in UEPC, a medical school
located in the Federal District that offers higher education and post-graduate courses, both in person and through long-distance learning. We do not currently have a controlling
interest in UEPC and any disagreements or disputes with these or any other companies where we have or in which we may decide to acquire a minority interest could adversely
affect our ability to develop and commercialize our products and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations. The failure to continue any investment arrangement or to
resolve disagreements with current or future companies where we have a minority interest could materially and adversely affect our ability to transact the business that is the
subject of such investment arrangement, which would in turn negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The interests of our management team may be focused on the short-term market price of our Class A common shares, which may not coincide with your interests. In
addition, our shareholders may suffer dilution of their interests in our share capital and in the value of their investments due to the issuance of new shares for settlement of
our share-based incentive plans.
Our directors and officers, among others, own shares issued by us and are beneficiaries under our stock option plans. Our current stock option plan for our managers and
employees was approved in August 2019 (as amended in July 2020 and July 2022), and reserved up to 4% of our common shares at any time (excluding treasury shares) for
issuance under this new equity incentive plan. In addition, on July 8, 2022, we created a restricted stock units plan and reserved up to 1.2% of our common shares at any time for
issuance under this new plan. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—New Long-Term Incentive Plan.”
Due to the issuance of stock options or restricted shares to members of our management team, a significant portion of their compensation is closely tied to our results of
operations and, more specifically to the trading price of our Class A common shares, which may lead such individuals to direct our business and conduct our activities with an
emphasis on short-term profit generation. As a result of these factors, the interests of our management team may not coincide with the interests of our other shareholders that have
longer-term investment objectives.
Once the options have been exercised by the participants and/or the common shares to be issued under the restricted stock units plan have vested, our board of directors will
determine whether our capital stock should be increased through the issuance of new shares to be subscribed by participants, or if they will be settled through shares held in
treasury. In the event settlement occurs through the issuance of new shares, our shareholders will suffer dilution, of their interests in our share capital and in the value of their
investments, up to a maximum of 5.2% of our common shares at any time.
In case of new stock option grants, whether under existing plans or new plans that may be approved by our shareholders at the shareholders’ meeting, our shareholders will
be subject to additional dilution. For additional information on our stock option plan, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation of Directors
and Officers” for additional information.
An increase in delays and/or defaults in the payment of tuition fees may adversely affect our income and cash flows.
We depend on the full and timely payment of the tuition we charge our students, including tuition payments we receive through FIES. Adverse changes in the macroeconomic
environment and the earnings capacity of our students, may lead to an increase in payment delinquency or default by our students and negatively impact our ability to collect our
accounts receivable. An increase in payment delinquency or default by our students may have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and our business, including our ability
to meet our obligations. Our allowance for doubtful accounts expenses as a percentage of our revenue was 1.8%, 2.8% and 2.7% for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and
2020, respectively. There is no guarantee that our allowance for doubtful accounts expenses will not increase in the following years. Our inability to collect our accounts receivable
on a timely basis, if at all, could cause our allowance for doubtful accounts expenses to increase in the future, and materially and adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity
and results of operations.
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Difficulties in identifying, opening and efficiently managing new campuses or in obtaining regulatory authorizations and accreditations on a timely basis as part of our
organic growth strategy may adversely affect our business.
Our organic strategy includes expanding by opening new campuses and integrating them into our educational network. This growth plan creates significant challenges in
terms of maintaining our teaching quality and culture, as a result of the complexity and difficulty of effectively managing a greater number of campuses and programs. If we are
unable to maintain our current quality standards, we may lose market share and be adversely affected.
Establishing new campuses poses important challenges and requires us to make significant investments in infrastructure, marketing, personnel and other pre-operational
expenses, mainly identifying new sites for lease or purchase. We prioritize identifying strategic sites, negotiating the purchase or lease of properties, building or refurbishing
facilities (including libraries, laboratories and classrooms), obtaining local permits, hiring and training faculty and staff, and investing in administration and support.
We are also required to register our new campuses with MEC, before opening and operating them, as well as having our new programs accredited by MEC in order to issue
official degrees and certificates to our students. If we do not succeed in identifying and establishing our campuses in a cost-effective manner or in obtaining such authorizations or
accreditations on a timely basis, or if MEC imposes restrictions or conditions on our accreditation requests for new campuses, our business may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to successfully expand our presence and performance in the distance learning business.
We may face difficulties in successfully operating our distance learning program and in implementing and investing in the technologies necessary to operate a successful
distance learning program, where the technological needs, the expectations of our customers and market standards change rapidly. We have to quickly modify our products and
services to adapt to new distance learning technologies, practices and standards. We may be adversely affected if current or future competitors introduce products or service
platforms that are superior to those we offer, or if our resources are not adequate to develop and adapt our technological capabilities rapidly enough to maintain our competitive
position.
In addition, the success of our distance learning programs depends on the general population having easy and affordable access to the internet, as well as on other
technological factors that are outside of our control. If the internet becomes inaccessible or access costs increase to levels higher than current prices, or if the number of students
interested in distance learning educational methods does not increase, we may be unable to successfully implement our distance learning program strategy, which would have an
adverse effect on our growth strategy.
We face significant competition in each program we offer and each geographic region in which we operate. If we fail to compete efficiently, we may lose market share and
our profitability may be adversely affected.
We compete with various public and private post-secondary education institutions, including distance learning institutions. Our competitors may offer programs or courses
similar to or better than those offered by us, have access to more funds, be more prestigious or well-regarded within the academic community, have more conveniently located
campuses with better infrastructure, or charge lower tuition.
On April 5, 2018, MEC issued Ordinance No. 328/18, pursuant to which, among other measures, MEC imposed a five-year suspension on the granting of authorizations for the
creation of new medical education courses. However, on April 5, 2023, MEC issued Ordinance No. 650/23, which revoked the suspension under Ordinance No. 328/18 and set new
rules for the opening of new medicine courses. In particular, MEC will be required to conduct a public call for new courses, i.e., through the Mais Médicos program pursuant to Law
No. 12,871/2013, and subject any such courses to the prior review by the Interministerial Commission for Health Education Management (Comissão Interministerial de Gestão da
Educação na Saúde). By August 4, 2023, MEC must commence this public call and set the rules, procedures, decision-making standards and the calendar in connection with the
fulfillment of medicine course vacancies. As new medicine courses are authorized by MEC pursuant to this revised standard, or to the extent MEC further repeals restrictions set
on new medicine courses or the fulfillment of medicine course vacancies, this will result in the creation of new medical education courses or medicine course vacancies, which will
in turn increase competition. As a result, we may be required to reduce our tuition fees or increase our operating expenses (including our costs per student) in order to retain or
attract students or to pursue new market opportunities, and reduce our ability to fill all our medical seats capacity.
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In addition, although Ordinance No. 650/23 requires a public call prior to the authorization of a new medicine course, some educational institutions have been judicially
challenging this restriction before Brazilian courts to compel MEC to receive and review requests for new medicine courses outside the Mais Médicos program rules by alleging
that these rules are an undue restriction on freedom of competition. Certain courts may ultimately compel the MEC to receive and review these requests. For instance, Declaratory
Action of Constitutionality (Ação Declaratória de Constitucionalidade) No. 81 was filed by the Brazilian National Association of Private Universities (Associação Nacional das
Universidades Particulares) before the Brazilian Supreme Court to discuss the validity of these restrictions. Should the Brazilian Supreme Court rule against the validity of these
restrictions, we may be required to reduce our tuition or increase our operating expenses (including our costs per student) in order to compete effectively, retain or attract students
or to pursue new market opportunities. Furthermore, we were awarded, seven new undergraduate campuses as part of the Mais Médicos program, all of which are located in remote
regions of Brazil and which operations are subject to the verification by the MEC of the satisfactory implementation by Afya Brazil of all regulatory requirements. We cannot
assure you that there will be sufficient student demand to fill all medical school seats available at such campuses.
As a result of the foregoing, our revenues and profitability may decrease. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully against our current or future
competitors. If we are unable to maintain our competitive position or otherwise respond to competitive pressures effectively, we may lose our market share, our profits may
decrease and we may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to update, improve or offer the content of our existing programs to our students on a cost-effective basis, which may materially adversely affect our
ability to attract and retain students.
To differentiate ourselves and remain competitive, we must continually update our courses and develop new educational programs, including through the adoption of new
technological tools. Updates to our current courses and the development of new educational programs may not be readily accepted by our students or by the market. Also, we may
not be able to introduce new educational programs at the same pace as our competitors or at the pace required by the labor market. If we do not adequately modify our educational
programs in response to market demand, whether due to financial restrictions, unusual technological changes or otherwise, our ability to attract and retain students may be
impaired and we may be materially adversely affected.
If we continue to grow, we may not be able to appropriately manage the expansion of our business and staff, the increased complexity of our software and platforms, or
grow in our addressable market.
We are currently experiencing a period of significant expansion and are facing a number of expansion-related issues, such as the acquisition and retention of experienced and
talented personnel, cash flow management, corporate culture and efficacy of internal controls, among others. These issues and the significant amount of time spent on addressing
them may result in the diversion of our management’s attention from other business issues and opportunities. In addition, we believe that our corporate culture and values are
critical to our success, and we have invested a significant amount of time and resources building them. If we fail to preserve our corporate culture and values, our ability to recruit,
retain and develop personnel and to effectively implement our strategic plans may be harmed.
We must constantly update our software, enhance and improve our billing, transaction and other business systems, and add and train new software designers and engineers,
as well as other personnel. This process is time intensive and expensive, and may lead to higher costs in the future. Furthermore, we may need to enter into relationships with
various strategic partners other online service providers and other third parties necessary to our business. The increased complexity of managing multiple commercial relationships
could lead to execution problems that can affect current and future revenues, and operating margins.
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We cannot assure you that our current and planned platform and systems, procedures and controls, personnel and third-party relationships will be adequate to support our
future operations. In addition, our current expansion has placed significant strain on management and on our operational and financial resources, and this strain is expected to
continue. Our failure to manage growth effectively could seriously harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The ability to attract, recruit, retain and develop key personnel and qualified employees is critical to our success and growth. If we lose key personnel, our business,
financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
In order for us to successfully compete and grow, we must attract, recruit, retain and develop the necessary personnel who can provide the needed expertise across the entire
spectrum of our intellectual capital needs. While we have a number of our key personnel who have substantial experience with our operations, we must also develop our personnel
to provide succession plans capable of maintaining continuity in the midst of the inevitable unpredictability of human capital. However, the market for qualified personnel is
competitive, and we may not succeed in recruiting additional personnel or may fail to effectively replace key current personnel who depart with qualified or effective successors.
We must continue to hire additional personnel to execute our strategic plans. Our effort to retain and develop personnel may also result in significant additional expenses, which
could adversely affect our profitability. We cannot assure you that qualified employees will continue to be employed, that we will manage them successfully, or that, in the future,
we will be able to attract qualified personnel with similar skills and expertise at equivalent cost and retain them.
We are also dependent upon the ability and experience of a number of our key personnel who have substantial experience with our operations. Many of our key personnel
have worked for us for a significant amount of time or were recruited by us specifically due to their industry experience. It is possible that the failure to retain or attract the services
of one or a combination of our senior executives, board members (including those with M&A experience related to our industry), or key managers, could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any increase in the attrition rates of students in our education programs may adversely affect our results of operations.
We believe that our attrition rates are primarily related to the personal motivation and financial situation of our current and potential students, as well as to socioeconomic
conditions in Brazil. Significant changes in future attrition rates and/or failure to re-enroll may affect our enrollment numbers, such as in the context of economic uncertainty or
volatility, and may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and our results of operations.
Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business.
Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could materially adversely impact our business. For instance, on March 11, 2020, the World
Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, which led to interruptions of our on-campus activities to varying degrees, with a significant portion of our
nonpractical educational activities being temporarily offered through our online platform (rather than on-site), and the calendar of our practical educational activities being
rescheduled to when authorities allowed on-campus activities to resume. As of the date of this annual report, all lockdown restrictions have been revoked by Brazilian authorities
in our campus locations and we successfully resumed our on-campus activities and classes.
In addition, during 2020, certain Brazilian states issued decrees granting mandatory discounts to our students because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These mandatory discounts
were suspended as their constitutionality was challenged before the Brazilian superior courts. On November 18, 2021, the Brazilian Supreme Court decided, by a majority vote, that
any judicial decisions rendered in lawsuits that granted linear discounts in monthly tuition fees for private universities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional.
Therefore, we ceased to apply linear discounts on any active monthly tuition fees that are related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as of December 31, 2022, were in the
process of charging back these discounted amounts from students that had benefitted from these unconstitutional decisions, in light of the final decision rendered by the Brazilian
Supreme Court. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we have invoiced R$9.9 million from previous periods, net of discounts granted due to COVID-19 and net of provisions. This
amount substantially arose from our subsidiary FCMPB, following a lower court decision that suspended these discounts in our favor but with restrictions on the collection in
such invoices (R$33.1 million and R$6.6 million of discounts granted, net of discounts recovered, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively). The outstanding
balances are classified as accounts receivable.
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Further, COVID-19 has exacerbated certain risks to our business, including an increased demand for information technology resources, increased risk of phishing and other
cybersecurity attacks, and increased risk of the unauthorized dissemination of personal information, sensitive personal information or proprietary or confidential information about
us or our customers or other third parties. In particular, we process personal data, and we therefore will be subject to the Brazilian Data Protection Law (Lei Geral de Proteção de
Dados), or the LGPD. Considering that our processing of personal data has increased as a result of the measures we adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, if we fail to comply
with any provisions provided for in the LGPD, we could be subject to lawsuits filed by the data subjects, public authorities and private associations, including those for
compensation for damages arising from the violation of the data subjects’ rights, and we could be subject to the penalties provided for not only in the LGPD, but also in sectorial
legislation, such as the Brazilian Consumer Defense and Protection Code (Código de Defesa do Consumidor) and the Brazilian Civil Framework of the Internet (Marco Civil da
Internet). If we do not comply with the LGPD and are in turn subject to sanctions, we may suffer financial and reputational losses, which may adversely affect our financial results.
See "—Failure to prevent or detect a malicious cyber-attack on our systems and databases could result in a misappropriation of confidential information or access to highly
sensitive information,” "—Our success depends on our ability to monitor and adapt to technological changes in the education sector and maintain a technological infrastructure
that works adequately and without interruption,” and "—Failure to comply with data privacy regulations could result in reputational damage to our brands and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.”
We may be held liable for extraordinary events that may occur at our campuses, which may have an adverse effect on our image and, consequently, our results of
operations.
We may be held liable for the actions of officers, directors, professors or other employees at our campuses, including allegations of non-compliance by officers, directors,
professors or other employees with specific legislation and regulations implemented by MEC relating to our programs. In the event of accidents, injuries or other damages affecting
students, professors, other employees or third parties at our campuses, we may face claims alleging that we were negligent, provided inadequate supervision or were otherwise
liable for the injury. We may also be subject to claims alleging that officers, directors, professors or other employees committed moral or sexual harassment or other unlawful acts.
Our insurance coverage may not cover certain indemnifications we may be required to pay, be insufficient to cover these types of claims, or may not cover certain acts or events.
We may also not be able to renew our current insurance policies under the same terms. Such liability claims may affect our reputation and harm our financial results. See "Item 4.
Information on the Company—Business Overview—Insurance.” In addition, we may also be subject to legal proceedings by current and/or former students alleging breaches of
rights granted by the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code (Código de Defesa do Consumidor), and to legal proceedings by current and/or former employees alleging breaches of
applicable labor laws. Even if unsuccessful, these claims may cause negative publicity, reduce enrollment numbers, increase student attrition rates, entail substantial expenses and
divert the time and attention of our management, materially adversely affecting our results of operations and financial condition.
We may face restrictions and penalties under the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code in the future.
Brazil has a series of strict consumer protection laws, referred to collectively as the Consumer Protection Code (Código de Defesa do Consumidor). These laws apply to all
companies in Brazil that supply products or services to Brazilian consumers. They include protection against misleading and deceptive advertising, protection against coercive or
unfair business practices and protection in the formation and interpretation of contracts, usually in the form of civil liabilities and administrative penalties for violations.
These penalties are often levied by the Brazilian Consumer Protection Agencies (Fundação de Proteção e Defesa do Consumidor, or PROCONs), which oversee consumer
issues on a district-by-district basis. Companies that operate across Brazil may face penalties from multiple PROCONs, as well as from the National Secretariat for Consumers
(Secretaria Nacional do Consumidor, or SENACON). Companies may settle claims made by consumers via PROCONs by paying compensation for violations directly to
consumers and through a mechanism that allows them to adjust their conduct, called a conduct adjustment agreement (Termo de Ajustamento de Conduta, or TAC).
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Brazilian public prosecutors may also commence investigations of alleged violations of consumer rights and require companies to enter into TACs. Companies that violate
TACs face potential enforcement proceedings and other potential penalties such as fines, as set forth in the relevant TAC. Brazilian public prosecutors may also file public civil
actions against companies who violate consumer rights or competition rules, seeking strict adherence to the consumer protection laws and compensation for any damages to
consumers. In certain cases, we may also face investigations and/or sanctions by the CADE, in the event our business practices are found to affect the competitiveness of the
markets in which we operate or the consumers in such markets.
Any change or review of the tax treatment of our activities, or the loss or reduction in tax benefits on the sale of books (including digital content) may materially adversely
affect us.
The Brazilian Federal Constitution, in Article 150, exempts production, sale and resale activities involving books. In this sense, Medcel is not taxed by the federal VAT (tax on
industrial activity, or "IPI”), the state VAT (tax on sale or resale of products, or "ICMS”) and the municipal VAT (tax on services, or "ISS”). According to Brazilian federal law No.
10,865/2004, the Company is also benefited from a zero tax rate on Federal Social Contributions, PIS and COFINS, which are calculated on gross revenue. If the Brazilian
government or tax authority or the Brazilian superior courts decide to change or review the tax treatment for the production or sales of books (including digital books and e-
readers), and we are unable to pass any cost increase onto our students, our results may be materially adversely affected.
Moreover, in October 2021, more than 130 countries agreed to implement a minimum tax regime for multinational groups, known as Pillar Two, to reform the international
corporate taxation. Pillar Two aims to ensure that multinational groups in scope are liable to a minimum effective corporate tax rate of 15% per country. In December 2021, the OECD
released the Pillar Two model rules—accompanied by a comment and guidelines—which are due to be passed into national legislation but adapted by local conditions. The
management closely monitors the progress of the legislative process in each country in which the Group operates. As of December 31, 2022, we did not have sufficient information
to determine any potential quantitative impact.
If we are unable to maintain consistent educational quality throughout our network, including the educational materials of our post-secondary education institutions, or
keep or adequately train our faculty members, we may be adversely affected.
Our teaching faculty, including teachers and professors at our post-secondary education institutions, is essential for maintaining the quality of our programs and the strength
of our brand and reputation. We promote training in order for our faculty to attain and maintain the qualifications we require and for us to provide updating programs on trends and
changes in their areas. Due to shortages in the supply of qualified professors, competition for hiring and retaining qualified professionals has increased substantially. We cannot
assure you that we will succeed in retaining our current professors or recruiting or training new professors who meet our quality standards, particularly as we continue to expand
our operations.
The quality of our academic curricula and the infrastructure of our campuses are also key elements of the quality of the education we provide. We cannot assure you that we
will succeed in identifying facilities with adequate infrastructure for our new campuses, develop adequate infrastructure in properties we acquire or have enough resources to
continue expanding through acquisitions or development of new projects. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to develop academic curricula for our new
programs with the same levels of excellence as existing programs and meeting the standards set forth by MEC. Shortages of qualified professors, adequate infrastructure or quality
academic curricula for new programs according to our business model and the parameters set forth by MEC, may have a material adverse effect on our business.
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Our business depends on the continued success of the brands of each of our institutions, as well as the "Afya” brand, and if we fail to maintain and enhance the recognition
of our brands, we may face difficulty enrolling new students, and our reputation and operating results may be harmed.
We believe that market awareness of our brands has contributed significantly to the success of our business. Maintaining and enhancing our brands is critical to our efforts to
grow student enrollments. Failure to maintain and enhance our brand recognition could have a material and adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition. We have devoted significant resources to our brand promotion efforts in recent years, but we cannot assure you that these efforts will be successful. If we are unable to
further enhance our brand recognition, or if we incur excessive marketing and promotion expenses, or if our brand image is negatively impacted by any negative publicity, our
business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
If we are not able to maintain our current MEC evaluation ratings and the evaluation ratings of our students, we may be adversely affected.
We and our students are regularly evaluated and rated by MEC. If our campuses, programs or students receive lower scores from MEC than in previous years in any of its
evaluations, including the IGC (Índice Geral de Cursos), and the Student Performance National Exam (Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes, or ENADE), we may
experience a reduction in enrollments and be adversely affected by perceptions of decreased educational quality, which may negatively affect our reputation and, consequently,
our results of operations and financial condition.
Finally, in the event that any of our programs receive unsatisfactory evaluations, the post-secondary education institution offering the programs may be required to enter into
an agreement with MEC setting forth proposed measures and timetables to improve the program and remedy the unsatisfactory evaluation. Non-compliance with the terms of the
agreement may result in additional penalties on the institution. These penalties could include, but are not limited to, suspending our ability to enroll students in our programs,
denial of accreditation or re-accreditation of our institutions or prohibiting us from holding regular class sessions, all of which can adversely affect our results of operations and
financial condition.
We are subject to supervision by MEC and, consequently, may suffer sanctions as a result of non-compliance with any regulatory requirements.
Brazilian Federal Law No. 10,861/2004, regulated by Decree No. 9,235/2017, implemented the activities of supervision of post-secondary education entities and courses in the
Brazilian federal education system. The Secretariat for Regulation and Supervision of Post-secondary Education, or SERES, of MEC is responsible for the regular and special
supervision of the corresponding courses and programs.
Regular supervision derives from complaints and allegations by students, parents and faculty members, as well as by public entities and the press. These complaints and
allegations involve specific cases of entities with courses showing evidence of irregularities or deficiencies. We are subject to those complaints and representations. Special
supervision, on the other hand, may be commenced by MEC itself, based on its post-secondary education regularity and quality standards, and involves more than one course or
entity, grouped according to the criteria chosen for the special supervision. These criteria may include unsatisfactory results in the ENADE and the Difference Indicator between
Expected and Actual Performance (Indicador de Diferença entre os Desempenhos Observado e Esperado), among other quality indicators, the history of course evaluations by
INEP, as well as compliance with specific legal requirements as, for example, the minimum ratio between faculty members with master’s or doctorate degrees.
Administrative irregularities can include, among others: (i) unlicensed or irregular post-secondary courses; (ii) any outsourcing of post-secondary education activities; (iii) the
failure to file a re-accreditation or recognition or renewal request with respect to post-secondary education courses within the time periods enacted by MEC pursuant to Decree No.
9,235/2017; and (iv) failure to comply with any penalties imposed by the MEC.
If MEC concludes, as part of its supervisory activities, that an irregularity constitutes an imminent risk or threat to students or the public interest, it may impose the following
measures on the relevant educational institution for a period to be determined by SERES: (i) suspend the admission of new students; (ii) suspend the offering of undergraduate or
postgraduate lato sensu courses; (iii) suspend the institution’s discretionary ability to, among other things, create new post-secondary courses and establish course curricula, if
applicable; (iv) suspend the license to establish new distance learning programs; (v) override any ongoing regulatory requests filed by the institution and prohibit new regulatory
requests; (vi) suspend participation in the New FIES; (vii) suspend participation in PROUNI; and (viii) suspend or restrict participation in other federal education programs. The
educational institution can contest the MEC’s findings by filing motions with MEC or with Brazilian courts.
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Upon completion of the supervisory process and to the extent MEC concludes that there are administrative irregularities, SERES may apply the penalties provided for by Law
No. 9,394/1996, namely (i) discontinue courses; (ii) directly intervene in the educational institution; (iii) temporarily suspend the institution’s discretionary ability to, among other
things, create new post-secondary courses and establish course curricula, if applicable; (iv) disqualify the institution as an educational institution; (v) reduce the number of
student vacancies; (vi) temporarily suspend new student enrollments; or (vii) temporarily suspend courses.
The post-secondary education sector is highly regulated, and our failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations could significantly impact our business.
We are subject to various federal laws and extensive government regulations by MEC, Conselho Nacional de Educação (National Education Council, or CNE), INEP, FIES
and the National Post-secondary Education Assessment Commission (Comissão Nacional de Avaliação da Educação Superior, or CONAES), among others, including, but not
limited to Law No. 12,871, of October 22, 2013, which created the "Mais Médicos” program.
Brazilian education regulations define three types of post-secondary education institutions: (i) colleges, (ii) university centers and (iii) universities. The three categories
depend on previous accreditation by MEC to operate. Colleges differ from the other categories with respect to the programs offered, as colleges depend on previous authorization
from MEC to implement new programs, while university centers and universities are not subject to such requirements, except for courses in law, medicine, psychology, nursing and
dentistry, which require the prior approval of MEC.
All accredited educational institutions require the prior approval of MEC to create campuses outside their headquarters. All post-secondary education programs must be
recognized by MEC as a requirement, together with registration of the program, to validate the diplomas issued by them. However, pursuant to article 101 of Ordinance No. 23/2017
of MEC, issued diplomas may be valid even if the program is not formally recognized by MEC, so long as the educational institution has filed the request with MEC to certify the
program, and the request is pending formal review and approval by MEC. As a result, any failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements by post-secondary education
entities may result in the imposition of sanctions by MEC, as well as damage to the program’s reputation.
MEC must authorize our campuses located outside our headquarters before they can start their operations and programs. For further information, see "Item 4. Information on
the Company—Business Overview—Regulatory Overview.” Distance learning programs, as well as on-campus learning, are also subject to strict accreditation requirements for
their implementation and operation. We must comply with all such requirements in order to obtain and renew all authorizations.
We cannot assure you we will be able to comply with these regulations and maintain the validity of our authorizations, enrollments and accreditations in the future. If we fail to
comply with these regulatory requirements, MEC could place limitations on our operations, including cancellation of programs, reduction in the number of positions we offer to
students, termination of our ability to issue degrees and certificates and revocation of our accreditation, any of which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of
operations.
We cannot assure you that we will obtain accreditation or re-accreditation of our post-secondary education institutions, or that our courses will receive authorization or
reauthorization as scheduled, or that they will have all of the accreditations, re-accreditations, authorizations and re-authorizations required by MEC. The absence of such
accreditations and authorizations from the MEC or any delays in obtaining them could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, we may also be adversely affected by any changes in the laws and regulations applicable to post-secondary education institutions, particularly by changes related
to: (i) any revocation of accreditation of private educational institutions; (ii) the imposition of controls on monthly tuition payments or restrictions on the profitability of private
educational institutions; (iii) faculty credentials; (iv) academic requirements for courses and curricula; (v) infrastructure requirements of campuses, such as libraries, laboratories
and administrative support; (vi) the "Mais Médicos” program; (vii) the promulgation by the MEC of new rules and regulations affecting post-secondary education, in particular
with respect to distance learning programs; and (viii) any local restrictions that may be re-imposed to curb the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the places we operate.
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We may be materially adversely affected if we are unable to obtain these authorizations, accreditations and course recognitions in a timely manner, if we cannot introduce new
courses as quickly as our competitors, if we are not able to or do not comply with any new rules or regulations promulgated by the MEC or if laws and regulations are passed
adverse to the business and operations of post-secondary education institutions.
Our success depends on our ability to operate in strategically located property that is easily accessible by public transportation.
We believe that urban mobility, inadequate public transportation systems and high transportation costs in many Brazilian cities make the location and accessibility of
campuses a decisive factor for students choosing an educational institution. Therefore, a key component of the success of our business consists in finding, renting and/or buying
strategically located property that meets the needs of our students. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to keep our current property or acquire new property that is
strategically located in the future. In addition, acquisition costs, costs associated with improvements, construction, and repairs of existing properties and rental values for the
properties we use might increase in the future and could have a material adverse effect on our business. Finally, due to demographic and socioeconomic changes in the regions in
which we operate, we cannot guarantee that the location of our campuses will continue to be attractive and convenient to students.
Failure to protect or enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary rights could adversely affect our business and financial condition and results of operations.
We rely and expect to continue to rely on a combination of trademark, copyright, patent and trade secret protection laws, as well as confidentiality and license agreements with
our employees, consultants and third parties with whom we have relationships to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights. As of the date of this annual report, we
had no issued patents and one patent application pending in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, we were party to 337 agreements, with third-party authors with respect to educational
content. As of December 31, 2022, we owned 299 trademark registrations in Brazil, and we have also sought to register six trademarks abroad, in the United States and in the
European Union. As of the date of this annual report, we have 129 pending trademark applications in Brazil and unregistered trademarks that we use to promote our brand, and also
own 297 registered domain names in Brazil. From time to time, we expect to file additional patent, copyright and trademark applications in Brazil and abroad. Nevertheless, these
applications may not be approved or otherwise provide the full protection we seek. Any dismissal of our "AFYA” trademark application may impact our business. Third parties
may challenge any patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property and proprietary rights owned or held by us. Third parties may knowingly or unknowingly
infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate our patents, copyrights, trademarks and other proprietary rights, and we may not be able to prevent infringement, misappropriation or
other violation without substantial expense to us.
Furthermore, we cannot guarantee that:
·
our intellectual property and proprietary rights will provide competitive advantages to us;
·
our competitors or others will not design around our intellectual property or proprietary rights;
·
our ability to assert or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights against potential competitors or to settle current or future disputes will not be limited by our
agreements with third parties;
·
our intellectual property and proprietary rights will be enforced in jurisdictions where competition may be intense or where legal protection may be weak;
·
any of the patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets or other intellectual property or proprietary rights that we presently employ in our business will not lapse or be
invalidated, circumvented, challenged or abandoned; or
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·
we will not lose the ability to assert or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights against or to license our intellectual property or proprietary rights to others
and collect royalties or other payments.
If we pursue litigation to assert or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights, an adverse decision in any of these legal actions could limit our ability to assert our
intellectual property or proprietary rights, limit the value of our intellectual property or proprietary rights or otherwise negatively impact our business, financial condition and
results of operations. If the protection of our intellectual property and proprietary rights is inadequate to prevent use or misappropriation by third parties, the value of our brand
and other intangible assets may be diminished, competitors may be able to more effectively mimic our service and methods of operations, the perception of our business and
service to customers and potential customers may become confused in the marketplace and our ability to attract customers may be adversely affected.
We may in the future be subject to intellectual property claims, which are costly to defend and, if we do not succeed in defending such claims, could harm our business,
financial condition and operating results.
From time to time, third parties may allege in the future that we or our business infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates their intellectual property or proprietary rights,
including with respect to our publications. Many companies, including various "non-practicing entities” or "patent trolls,” are devoting significant resources to developing or
acquiring patents that could potentially affect many aspects of our business. We have not exhaustively searched patents related to our technology. In addition, the publishing
industry has been, and we expect in the future will continue to be, the target of counterfeiting and piracy. We may implement measures in an effort to protect against these
potential liabilities that could require us to spend substantial resources. Any costs incurred as a result of liability or asserted liability relating to sales of unauthorized or counterfeit
educational materials could harm our business, reputation and financial condition.
Third parties may initiate litigation against us without warning. Others may send us letters or other communications that make allegations without initiating litigation. We have
in the past and may in the future receive such communications, which we assess on a case-by-case basis. We may elect not to respond to the communication if we believe it is
without merit or we may attempt to resolve disputes out of court by electing to pay royalties or other fees for licenses. If we are forced to defend ourselves against intellectual
property claims, whether they are with or without merit or are determined in our favor, we may face costly litigation, diversion of technical and management personnel, inability to
use our current website or inability to market our service or merchandise our products. As a result of a dispute, we may have to develop non-infringing technology, including
partially or fully revising any publication that infringes intellectual property rights, enter into licensing agreements, adjust our merchandising or marketing activities or take other
action to resolve the claims. These actions, if required, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us or may be costly or unavailable. If we are unable to obtain sufficient rights or
develop non-infringing intellectual property or otherwise alter our business practices, as appropriate, on a timely basis, our reputation or brand, our business and our competitive
position may be affected adversely and we may be subject to an injunction or be required to pay or incur substantial damages and/or fees and/or royalties.
Most of our services are provided using proprietary software and our software is mainly developed by our employees, who assign to us their copyrights over the software. In
this regard, though applicable law establishes that employers shall have full title over rights relating to software developed by their employees, we could be subject to lawsuits by
former employees claiming ownership of such software. As a result, we may be required to obtain licenses of such software, incurring costs relating to payments of royalties and/or
damages and we may be forced to cease the use of such software. If we are unable to use certain of our proprietary software as a result of any of the foregoing or otherwise, this
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, we use open source software in connection with certain of our products and services. Companies that incorporate open source software into their products have,
from time to time, faced claims challenging the ownership of open source software and/or compliance with open source license terms. As a result, we could be subject to suits by
parties claiming ownership of what we believe to be open source software or non-compliance with open source licensing terms. Some open source software licenses require users
who distribute or use open source software as part of their software to publicly disclose all or part of the source code to such software and/or make available any derivative works
of the open source code on unfavorable terms or at no cost. Any requirement to disclose our proprietary source code or pay damages for breach of contract could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Unfavorable decisions in our legal, arbitration or administrative proceedings may adversely affect us.
We are, and we, our controlling shareholders, directors or officers may be in the future, party to legal, arbitration and administrative investigations, inspections and
proceedings arising from the ordinary course of our business or from nonrecurring corporate, tax, criminal or regulatory events, involving our suppliers, students, faculty members,
as well as environmental, competition and tax authorities, especially with respect to civil, tax, criminal and labor claims. We cannot guarantee that the results of these proceedings
will be favorable to us or that we have made sufficient provisions for liabilities that may arise as a result of these or other proceedings. Adverse decisions on material legal,
arbitration or administrative proceedings may damage our reputation and may adversely affect our results of operations and the price of our Class A common shares.
In addition, Mr. Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, our co-chairman, is currently party to a public civil proceeding filed by the federal prosecutor’s office against Mr. Carvalho Esteves
and other individuals in connection with certain irregular administrative acts alleged to have taken place during each of their respective terms as Health Secretary of the State of
Tocantins (Secretário de Saúde do Estado de Tocantins) between 2012 and 2014, a position held by Mr. Carvalho Esteves for a period of four months, from March 9, 2012 to July
20, 2012. In February 2022, a decision was issued, dismissing the motions submitted by the public prosecutor’s office, and, to date no appeal has been filed by the public
prosecutor’s office. The risk of loss in these proceedings is classified as remote by external counsel. If Mr. Carvalho Esteves is found liable, he may be subject to penalties,
including a three-year prohibition on him or any legal entity under his control transacting with public entities or being granted tax incentives/benefits. We cannot guarantee that
the results of these proceedings will be favorable to Mr. Carvalho Esteves and any adverse decision may damage our reputation, which may have an adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and the price of our Class A common shares. For further information, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and
Senior Management—Legal Proceedings.”
We are currently in the process of obtaining or renewing local licenses and permits, including licenses from the fire department, for some of the real estate we use. Failure
to obtain renewals of these licenses and permits in a timely manner may result in penalties, including closures of some of our campuses.
The use of all of our buildings, including our operational and administrative buildings, is subject to the successful issuance of an occupancy permit (Habite-se), or equivalent
certificate, issued by the municipality where the property is located, certifying that the building was constructed in compliance with applicable zoning and municipal regulations. In
addition, non-residential properties are required to have a use and operations license and/or permit, issued by the competent municipality, and a fire department inspection
certificate, issued by the fire department, prior to being used regularly.
We are currently in the process of obtaining and/or renewing these licenses for some of the real estate we use. The absence of such licenses may result in penalties ranging
from fines to forced demolition of the areas that were not built in compliance with applicable codes or, in the worst-case scenario, the temporary or permanent closure of the
campus or branch lacking the licenses and permits to the extent the relevant penalties and fines have not been paid and the licenses and permits have not been obtained following
notifications from the relevant authorities. Any penalties imposed, and in particular, the forced closure of any of our campuses or branches, may result in a material adverse effect
on our business. Moreover, in the event of any accident at our campuses or branches, the lack of such licenses may result in civil and criminal liability, as well as cause the
cancellation of insurance policies, if any, for the respective campus or branch and may damage our reputation.
We may not be able to maintain or renew our existing leases.
We lease substantially all of the properties on our campuses. According to Brazilian lease laws, a lessee has the right to renew existing leases for subsequent terms equal to
the original term of the lease. In order for a lessee to enforce this right, the following criteria must be met (i) the non-residential lease agreement must have a fixed term equal to or
greater than five consecutive years, or, in the event there is more than one agreement or amendment thereto regarding the same real estate, the aggregate term in such agreement or
amendment must be greater than five consecutive years (ii) the lessee must have been using the property for the same purpose for a minimum and continuous period of three years
and (iii) the lessee must claim the right of automatic renewal at the most one year and at least six months prior to the end of the term of the lease agreement.
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Lease agreements with terms lasting less than five years are not entitled to a right of compulsory renewal and, as a result, the lessor has the right to refuse renewal of the lease
upon expiration of its term. The lease agreements relating to our campuses generally have terms lasting from five to 30 years and are renewable in accordance with applicable
Brazilian lease laws. If we are forced to close any of our campuses due to the termination of a lease agreement and our inability to renew the lease, our business and results of
operations may be adversely affected.
In addition, most of our lease agreements are not registered with the relevant real estate registries. We therefore do not have a right of first refusal over the applicable property
in the event of a sale by its landlord and the subsequent purchaser may require that we vacate the property.
Acquisitions of educational institutions, in certain circumstances, must be approved by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense.
Brazilian legislation provides that acquisitions of educational institutions meeting certain requirements must be approved by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic
Defense (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica, or CADE) prior to the completion of the acquisition if one of the companies or group of companies involved has gross
annual revenues in Brazil of at least R$750.0 million in the year immediately prior to the acquisition and any other party or group of companies involved has gross income of at least
R$75.0 million in that same period. As part of this process, CADE must determine whether the specific operation affects the competitiveness of the market in question or the
consumers in such markets. CADE may not approve our future acquisitions or may condition approval of our acquisitions on our disposal of some of the operations of the target
of the acquisition, or impose restrictions on the operations and commercialization of the target. Failure to obtain approval for future acquisitions or any conditional approvals of
future acquisitions may result in expenses that may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. As a result of our growth strategy through acquisitions of
new entities, we may need additional funds to implement our strategy. Therefore, if we cannot obtain adequate financing to conclude any potential acquisition and implement our
expansion plans, our growth strategy will be affected.
Some of the properties that we occupy are owned by companies controlled by one of our controlling shareholders. Therefore, we are exposed to conflicts of interest, since
the administration of such properties may conflict with our interests, those of such controlling shareholder and those of our other shareholders.
Some of the properties we occupy, including properties where some of our campuses are located, are owned and operated by companies controlled by one of our controlling
shareholders. Therefore, the interests of our controlling shareholder in the administration of such property may conflict with our interests and those of our other shareholders. For
further information, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions” and note 8 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Our holding company structure makes us dependent on the operations of our subsidiaries. We depend on dividend distributions by our subsidiaries, and we may be
adversely affected if the performance of our subsidiaries is not positive.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. Our material assets are our direct and indirect equity interests in our subsidiaries. We control a number of
subsidiary companies that carry out the business activities of our corporate group. Our ability to comply with our financial obligations and to pay dividends to our shareholders
depends on our ability to receive distributions from the companies we control, which in turn depends on the cash flow and profits of those companies. There is no guarantee that
the cash flow and profits of our controlled companies will be sufficient for us to comply with our financial obligations and pay dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity to our
shareholders. Furthermore, exchange rate fluctuation will affect the U.S. dollar value of any distributions our subsidiaries make with respect to our equity interests in those
subsidiaries.
In addition, the Brazilian federal government recently stated that the income tax exemption on the distribution of dividends may be repealed and income tax assessed on the
distribution of dividends in the future, and that applicable taxes on the payment of interest on shareholders’ equity may be increased in the future. Any repeal of the income tax
exemption on the distribution of dividends and any increase in applicable taxes on the payment of interest on shareholders’ equity may adversely affect us.
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We and our subsidiaries may be held directly or indirectly responsible for labor claims pursuant to contracted services.
To meet the needs of our students and offer greater comfort and quality in all areas and aspects of our activities, we depend on service providers and suppliers for services
such as cleaning, surveillance, telemarketing and security. We may be adversely affected if these third-party service providers and suppliers do not meet their obligations under
Brazilian labor laws. In particular, according to Brazilian law we may be liable to the employees of these service providers and suppliers for labor obligations of these service
providers and suppliers to the extent such service providers and suppliers fail to indemnify such employees pursuant to court orders, and we may also be fined by the relevant
authorities. If we are held liable for such claims, we may be adversely affected.
We could be adversely affected if we are unable to pass on increases in our costs and expenses to our students by adjusting our monthly tuition fees.
Our primary source of income is the monthly tuition payments we charge to our students. Our payroll costs and expenses account for the majority of the costs of services and
general and administrative expenses, or 53.1%, 53.1% and 53.3% of such costs and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our faculty and
administrative employees are represented by labor unions in the higher education sector and are covered by collective bargaining agreements or similar arrangements determining
the number of working hours, minimum compensation, vacations and fringe benefits, among other terms. These agreements are subject to annual renegotiation and may be so
modified. We could also be adversely affected if we fail to achieve and maintain cooperative relationships with our professors’ or administrative employees’ unions or face strikes,
stoppages or other labor disruptions by our professors or employees, or if we are unable to pass on any increase in costs arising from the renegotiation of collective bargaining
agreements to the monthly tuition fees paid by students, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, our utilities expenses (comprised mainly of water, electricity and telephone expenses) represented 1.1%, 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively, of our costs of services and
general and administrative expenses. Personnel costs and expenses, lease values and the cost of electricity are adjusted regularly using indices that reflect changes in inflation
levels. If we are not able to transfer any increases in our costs and expenses to students by increasing the amounts of their monthly tuition fees, for example as a result of ongoing
political and economic instability in Brazil or globally, our operating results may be adversely affected.
If we are not able to attract and retain students, or are unable to do so without decreasing our tuition fees, our revenues may decline.
The success of our business depends primarily on the number of students enrolled in our programs and the tuition fees that they pay. Our ability to attract and retain students
depends mainly on the tuition fees we charge, the convenient locations of our facilities, the infrastructure of our campuses and the quality of our programs as perceived by our
existing and potential students. These factors are affected by, among other things, our ability to (i) respond to increasing competitive pressures, (ii) develop our educational
systems to address changing market trends and demands from post-secondary education institutions and students, (iii) develop new programs and enhance existing programs to
respond to changes in market trends and student demands, (iv) adequately prepare our students for careers in their chosen professional occupations, (v) successfully implement
our expansion strategy, (vi) manage our growth while maintaining our teaching quality and (vii) effectively market and sell our programs to a broader base of prospective students.
If we are unable to continue to attract new students to enroll in our programs and to retain our current students without significantly decreasing tuition, for example as a result of
changes in our students’ preferences due to economic uncertainty or volatility, our revenues and our business may decline and we may be adversely affected.
Our Digital Services segment is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which may cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and adversely impact our
working capital and liquidity throughout the year, adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Afya has three reporting segments: (1) Undergrad, which provides educational services through undergraduate courses related to medicine, other health sciences and other
undergraduate programs; (2) Continuing Education, which provides specialization programs and graduate courses for physicians; and (3) Digital Services, which provides digital
solutions for all stages of a medical career. This business unit is divided into Business to Physician (which encompasses Content & Technology for Medical Education, Clinical
Decision Software, Practice Management Tools & Electronic Medical Records, Physician-Patient Relationship, Telemedicine, and Digital Prescription), and Business to Business
(which provides access and demand for the healthcare players).
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Undergrad segment revenues are related to the intake process and monthly tuition fees charged to students over the period; accordingly, this segment generally is not subject
to significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter. Continuing Education segment revenues are related to monthly intakes and tuition fees and generally is not subject to significant
fluctuations from quarter to quarter. Digital Services is comprised mainly of Medcel, Pebmed, and iClinic revenues. While Pebmed and iClinic generally do not experience significant
fluctuations resulting from seasonality, Medcel’s revenue is concentrated in the first and last quarter of the fiscal year due to the period of enrollments of Medcel’s clients. In
addition, the majority of Medcel’s revenues are derived from printed books and e-books, which are recognized at the point in time when control is transferred to the customer.
Consequently, the Digital Services segment generally has higher revenues and results of operations in the first and last quarters of the fiscal year than in the second and third
quarters of the fiscal year.
In addition, the deterioration of Brazilian macroeconomic conditions as a result of, among other factors, the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in the reduction of the disposable
income of current and prospective customers of our Continuing Education, leading to the postponement of their residency and post-graduate specialization plans, consequently
reducing the demand for our residency preparatory courses and medical post-graduate specialization programs. Uncertain economic conditions have also affected the decision to
purchase products that are not of primary need for the doctor, especially for post-graduate specialization programs. Regarding the preparatory courses, it is worth adding that there
was a drop in demand in the courses with short duration due to the uncertainty on whether there would be exams or any related delays.
Accordingly, we expect quarterly fluctuations in our revenues and operating results to continue. These fluctuations could result in volatility and adversely affect our liquidity
and cash flows. As our business grows, these seasonal fluctuations may become more pronounced. As a result, we believe that sequential quarterly comparisons of our financial
results may not provide an accurate assessment of our financial position.
We face risks relating to our Digital Services segment.
We may face risks relating to the expansion, including through acquisitions, of our Digital Services segment, which provides content and technology for medical education,
clinical decisions software, practice management tools and electronic medical records, doctor-patient relationship, telemedicine and digital prescriptions. Companies operating in
this segment are subject to significant execution risk since they are providing new digital features and developing a new market, where the technological needs, the expectations of
our customers and market standards change rapidly. As such, we may have to quickly modify our products and services to adapt to new digital education technologies, practices
and standards.
In addition, the success of our digital education programs depends on the general population having easy and affordable access to the internet, as well as on other
technological factors that are outside of our control. If the internet becomes inaccessible or access costs increase to levels higher than current prices, or if the number of students
interested in digital education educational methods does not increase, we may be unable to successfully implement our digital education program strategy, which would have an
adverse effect on our growth strategy.
In addition, we also face operational risks relating to the integration of any such companies to build our ecosystem, including userbase and platform integration risks, among
other risks. As a result, any acquisitions we may make in this segment involve a number of uncertainties, risks and challenges that may have a material adverse effect on our
business and results of operations, and result in the risk of impairment. See also "—We may not be able to identify and acquire new medical higher education institutions or meet
our strategic and financial goals in connection with any business acquisition we seek, and difficulties in effectively integrating and managing a growing number of acquisitions
may adversely affect our strategic objectives.”
We are subject to environmental laws and regulations, which may become more stringent in the future and increase our obligations and capital expenditures with respect
to their compliance.
We are subject to several environmental municipal, state and federal laws. Compliance with these laws and regulations is monitored by governmental agencies and bodies that
may impose administrative, civil and criminal sanctions on us. Violations of these laws and regulations may result in the imposition of criminal and administrative sanctions, as well
as civil liability, seeking redress for alleged environmental damages and damages to third parties. Causing environmental damage may lead to administrative sanctions, which may
include, among other consequences, penalties such as fines (ranging from R$50 to R$50 million), revocation of our licenses and authorizations, and the temporary or permanent
suspension of our activities. There is no limit to the amount that the courts may award to cover the costs of remediation in the case of civil liability or, if the environmental damage
cannot be repaired, the payment of an indemnity. In addition, a claim seeking compensation for environmental damages is not subject to a statute of limitations. The enactment of
more stringent laws and regulations or more stringent interpretations of existing laws and regulations may force us to increase our capital expenditures relating to environmental
compliance, therefore diverting funds from previously planned investments. These changes could have a material adverse effect on us. Governmental agencies or other authorities
may also significantly delay or deny the issuance of permits and authorizations required for our operations, preventing us from making constructions and improvements in our
campuses. In addition, the improper disposal of solid waste, as well as accidents resulting from the transportation of such wastes, may give rise to administrative, civil and criminal
sanctions. Considering the provision on strict and joint environmental civil liability, the hiring of third parties to provide services for the collection, transportation and final
disposal of waste does not exempt us from liability for any environmental damage caused by such third parties.
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We may be adversely affected if the government changes its investment strategy in education.
According to Brazilian Federal Law No. 9,394/1996, as amended, providing education is a duty of the government and of the family, and private education is permitted, in
accordance with the terms set forth by the Brazilian constitution and applicable laws and regulations. Certain public institutions may have certain competitive advantages over us
in the admissions process, as they do not charge tuition fees and may be perceived to be more prestigious than private institutions, but the limited number of positions available
and the competitive nature of the admission process to public institutions significantly restricts access to these institutions by students. However, the Brazilian government may
change its policy and increase the competition we face by (i) increasing the level of public investment in basic education and post-secondary education in general, opening a
higher amount of positions and increasing the quality of education offered by public entities; and (ii) shifting resources from institutions that are centers of excellence and research
to public post-secondary education institutions. The introduction and extension of affirmative action admission policies by federal and state institutions based on income, race or
ethnicity criteria could also heighten the level of competition in the industry. Any policy change affecting the level of public investment in any aspect of the education sector may
adversely affect us. As of the date of this annual report, our management is not aware of any pending policy changes or proposed legislation affecting the level of public
investment in the education sector in Brazil.
Government agencies, MEC and third parties may conduct inspections, file administrative proceedings or initiate litigation against us.
Because we operate in a highly regulated industry, government agencies, MEC or third parties may conduct inspections, file administrative proceedings or initiate litigation for
non-compliance with regulations against us or the institutions we purchase. If the results of these proceedings or litigations are unfavorable to us, or if we are unable to
successfully defend our cases, we may be required to pay monetary damages or be subject to fines, limitations, injunctions or other penalties. Even if we adequately address issues
raised by an inspection conducted by an agency or successfully defend our case in an administrative proceeding or court action, we may have to set aside significant financial and
management resources to settle issues raised by these proceedings or to those lawsuits or claims. Administrative proceedings or court actions brought against us may damage our
reputation, even if such lawsuits or claims are without merit.
Our success depends on our ability to monitor and adapt to technological changes in the education sector and maintain a technological infrastructure that works
adequately and without interruption.
Information technology is an essential factor for our growth. Our information technology systems and tools may become obsolete or insufficient, or we may have difficulties in
following and adapting to technological changes in the education sector, particularly in the distance learning segment where the technological needs and expectations of our
customers and market standards change rapidly and we must quickly adapt to new distance learning technology, practices and standards. Moreover, our competitors may
introduce better products or service platforms. Our success depends on our ability to efficiently improve our current products while developing and introducing new products that
are accepted in the marketplace. Additionally, a failure to upgrade our technology, features, content, security infrastructure, network infrastructure, or other infrastructure
associated with our platform could harm our business. Adverse consequences could include unanticipated disruptions, slower response times, bugs, degradation in levels of
customer support, impaired quality of users’ experiences of our educational platform and delays in reporting accurate financial information.
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Our business, particularly our distance learning segment, depends on our information technology infrastructure functioning properly and without interruptions. Several
problems regarding our information technology structure, such as viruses, hackers, system interruptions and technical difficulties regarding our satellite transmissions of data,
sound and image, may have a material adverse effect on us and our business.
In addition, we face risks associated with unauthorized access to our systems, including by hackers and due to failures of our electronic security measures. These
unauthorized entries into our systems can result in the theft of proprietary or sensitive information, including student information, or cause interruptions in the operation of our
systems. As a result, we may be forced to incur considerable expenses to protect our systems from electronic security breaches and to mitigate our exposure to technological
problems and interruptions.
The Internet Act (Law No. 12,965/2014) applies only to personal data collected through the internet, and establishes other principles and rules with respect to the privacy and
protection of the personal and behavioral data of internet users. The Internet Act guarantees, among others, the privacy of internet and privately stored communications. Any data
processing activity is subject to the data subject’s informed, free and express consent. Decree No. 8,771/2016, which regulates the Internet Act, requires internet app providers to
maintain certain security measures in connection with the storage of personal data, including: (i) strict controls on access to personal data; (ii) authentication safeguards;
(iii) detailed data inventories (e.g., date, time and duration of access to the data, identity of the employee that accessed the data and the actions taken), and (iv) use of IT solutions
to ensure the data is protected (for example, data encryption or other equivalent protective measures). If we fail to comply with the provisions of the Internet Act, we may be
subject to sanctions and penalties, including damages, which will be assessed based on the nature and degree of our non-compliance, among other factors.
Failure to prevent or detect a malicious cyber-attack on our systems and databases could result in a misappropriation of confidential information or access to highly
sensitive information.
Cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated and pervasive. Across our business, we hold large volumes of personally identifiable information, including that of employees,
institutions, customers, students and parents, legal guardians, patients, physicians and clients (B2B and B2C). Individuals have tried and may continue to try to gain unauthorized
access to our data in order to misappropriate such information for potentially fraudulent purposes, and our security measures may fail to prevent such unauthorized access. A
breach of our systems could result in a devastating impact on our reputation, financial condition or student experience. In addition, if we were unable to prove that our systems are
properly designed to detect an intrusion, we could be subject to severe penalties and loss of existing or future business.
In particular, data protection and privacy laws are developing rapidly to take into account the changes in cultural and consumer attitudes towards the protection of personal
data. In operating our business and selling our products and services to customers, we and our subsidiaries collect, use, store, transmit and otherwise process employee and
customer data, including sensitive personal data. As a result, we and our subsidiaries are subject to a variety of laws and regulations in Brazil, as well as contractual obligations,
regarding data privacy, security and protection. In many cases, these laws and regulations apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between
or among us, our subsidiaries and other parties with which we have commercial relationships.
Privacy, information security, and data protection are significant issues globally. The regulatory framework governing the collection, processing, storage, use and sharing of
certain information, particularly financial and other personal data, is rapidly evolving and is likely to continue to be subject to uncertainty and varying interpretations. The
occurrence of unanticipated events and the development of evolving technologies often rapidly drive the adoption of legislation or regulation affecting the use, collection or other
processing of data and the manner in which we conduct our business. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with our privacy policies or any applicable privacy, security
or data protection, information security or consumer protection-related laws, regulations, orders or industry standards in one or more jurisdictions could expose us to costly
litigation, significant awards, fines or judgments, civil and criminal penalties or negative publicity, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
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We rely upon a third-party data center service provider to host certain aspects of our platform and content and any disruption to, or interference with, our use of such
services could impair our ability to deliver our platform, resulting in customer dissatisfaction, damaging our reputation, and harming our business.
We utilize data center hosting facilities from a global third-party service provider to make certain content available on our platform. Our operations depend, in part, on our
provider’s ability to protect its facilities against damage or interruption from natural disasters, power or telecommunications failures, criminal acts and similar events. The
occurrence of spikes in user volume, traffic, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, vandalism or sabotage, or a decision to close a facility without adequate notice, or other
unanticipated problems at our provider’s facilities could result in lengthy interruptions in the availability of our platform, which would adversely affect our business.
Failure to comply with data privacy regulations could result in reputational damage to our brands and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Any perceived or actual unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information, whether through breach of our network by an unauthorized party, employee theft,
misuse or error or otherwise, could harm our reputation, impair our ability to attract and retain our customers, or subject us to claims or litigation arising from damages suffered by
individuals. Failure to adequately protect personally identifiable information could potentially lead to penalties, significant remediation costs, reputational damage, the cancellation
of existing contracts and difficulty in competing for future business. In addition, we could incur significant costs in complying with relevant laws and regulations regarding the
unauthorized disclosure of personal information, which may be affected by any changes to data privacy legislation at both the federal and state levels.
In particular, on August 14, 2018, the President of Brazil approved the LGPD, which came completely into force on August 1, 2021. The LGPD is a comprehensive data
protection law establishing general principles and obligations that apply across multiple economic sectors and contractual relationships. The LGPD applies to individuals or legal,
private or government entities, who process personal data in Brazil or collect personal data in Brazil or, further, when the processing activities have the purpose of offering or
supplying goods or services to data subjects located in Brazil. The LGPD establishes detailed rules for the collection, use, processing, storage and any operation carried out with
personal data (including personal data of clients, suppliers and employees), and affects all economic sectors, including the relationship between customers and suppliers of goods
and services, employees and employers and other relationships in which personal data is collected, whether in a digital or physical environment.
Specifically, the LGPD establishes, among other things, data subjects’ rights, the legal basis for personal data protection, requirements for obtaining consent from data
owners, obligations and requirements related to security incidents, data leaks and international data transfers, as well as the creation of the National Data Protection Authority
(Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados, "ANPD”), for the purposes of monitoring, implementing and supervising compliance with the LGPD in Brazil. In the event of non-
compliance with the LGPD, we may be subject to penalties, including (1) warnings, with the impositions of a deadline for the adoption of corrective measures; (2) a one-time fine of
up to 2% (subject to an upper limit of R$50,000,000) of our revenue; (3) a daily fine (subject to an upper limit of R$50,000,000); (4) public disclosure of the violation; (5) the
restriction of access to the personal data to which the violation relates, until corrective measures are implemented; (6) deletion of the personal data to which the violation relates;
(7) partial suspension of the databases to which the violation relates for up to six months, which can be extended for an equal period until corrective measures are implemented;
(8) suspension of the personal data processing activities to which the violation relates for up to 12 months; and (9) partial or full prohibition on personal data processing activities.
In addition, the LGPD creates a private cause of action, which means we are subject to both class-based and individual claims for violations of the LGPD. The application of
sanctions by the ANPD has been further regulated by the Regulations on the Application of Administrative Sanctions, dated August 27, 2023, as a result of which the ANPD will
now be able to apply administrative sanctions based on clearer and more established guidelines and requirements.
While we are in the process of putting in place systems and processes to comply with the LGPD, we cannot assure you that our LGPD compliance efforts will be deemed
appropriate or sufficient by regulatory authorities, in particular ANPD, or by courts, such as the Brazilian Public Prosecution Office (Ministério Público). Moreover, as the LGPD
requires further regulation from the ANPD regarding several aspects of the law, which are yet unknown, we may have difficulty adapting our systems and processes to the new
legislation due to the legislation’s complexity. The changes have impacted, and could further adversely impact, our business by increasing our operational and compliance costs.
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Any additional privacy laws, rules or regulations enacted or approved in Brazil or in other jurisdictions in which we operate could cause us to incur costs to correct the
breaches or failures, expose us to uninsured liability, increase our risk of regulatory scrutiny, subject us to lawsuits and administrative procedures, and result in the imposition of
material penalties and fines under state and federal laws or regulations, which could seriously harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any failure, real or
perceived, by us to comply with our privacy policies or with any regulatory requirements or orders or other local, state, federal or international privacy or consumer protection-
related laws and regulations could cause customers to reduce their purchases of our products and services and could materially and adversely affect our business.
We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
We operate in jurisdictions that have a high risk for corruption and we are subject to various anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws and regulations,
including the Brazilian Federal Law No. 12,846/2013, also known as the Clean Company Act (and Decree No. 11,129/2022 that regulates the Clean Company Act), Brazilian Federal
Law No. 9,613/1998, as amended by Brazilian Federal Law No. 12,683/2012, and Brazilian Federal Law No. 8,429/1992, as amended by Brazilian Federal Law No. 14,230/2022, in
addition to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or the FCPA. Both the Clean Company Act and the FCPA impose liability against companies who
engage in bribery of government officials, either directly or through intermediaries.
Anti-corruption laws are interpreted broadly and prohibit us and our collaborators from authorizing, offering, or directly or indirectly providing improper payments or benefits
to recipients in the public or private sector. Although we strongly condemn the practice of corruption and bribery by promoting a culture of ethics and through our integrity
program, we or our collaborators may have direct and indirect interactions with government agencies and state-affiliated entities and universities in the course of our business. We
use third-party collaborators, and strategic partners, law firms, and other representatives for regulatory compliance, patent registration, deregulation advocacy, field testing, and
other purposes. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party collaborators, our employees, representatives, contractors, partners, and agents,
even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities.
Anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, anti-corruption and sanctions laws and regulations to which we are subject require us, among other things, to conduct full customer due
diligence (including sanctions and politically exposed person screening) and to keep our customer, account and transaction information up to date. We have implemented and are
in the process of reviewing our policies and procedures detailing what is required from those responsible, but all such policies may not be completed or may not be fully in effect as
of the date of this annual report (in particular, our policies relating to sanctions laws and regulations). In addition, we rely heavily on our employees to assist us by spotting such
illegal and improper activities and reporting them, and our employees have varying degrees of experience in recognizing criminal tactics and understanding the level of
sophistication of criminal organizations. In addition, we rely upon our relevant counterparties to a large degree to maintain and appropriately apply their own appropriate
compliance measures, procedures and internal policies. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, representatives, contractors, partners, or agents will
comply with these laws at all times. If we are unable to apply the necessary scrutiny and oversight of employees, third parties to whom we outsource certain tasks and processes or
counterparties, we increase the risk of regulatory breach.
Violations of – or even accusations of or associations with violations of – anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws and regulations could result in criminal
liability, administrative and civil lawsuits, significant fines and penalties (including being added to "black lists” that would prohibit certain parties from engaging in transactions
with us), forfeiture of significant assets and reputational harm. Non-compliance with these laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, investigations, sanctions,
settlements, prosecution, injunctions, suspension and debarment from contracting with certain governments or other persons, the loss of export privileges, reputational harm,
adverse media coverage, and other collateral consequences. If any subpoenas or investigations are launched, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if we do not
prevail in any possible civil or criminal litigation, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially harmed. In addition, responding to any action will
likely result in a materially significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees. Enforcement actions and
sanctions could further harm our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition.
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If any person in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects, or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money
laundering, or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property, and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in
the regulated section, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting
Authority of the Cayman Islands, or the FRA, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money
laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the FRA, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to
involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information
imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
We and our independent registered public accounting firm identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31,
2020. If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting
obligations or prevent fraud.
Disclosure controls and procedures over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company is
accumulated and communicated to management, and recorded, processed, summarized and reported in accordance with applicable rules. These disclosure controls and procedures
have inherent limitations which include the possibility that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns occur because of errors or mistakes. Additionally,
controls can be circumvented by any unauthorized management override of controls. Consequently, our businesses are exposed to risk from potential noncompliance with policies,
employee misconduct or negligence and fraud, which could result in regulatory sanctions, civil claims and serious reputational or financial harm. It is not always possible to deter
employee misconduct and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not always be effective. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in the control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. For details of the controls mentioned above, see the section of this annual report entitled "Item 15.
Controls and Procedures—B. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”
In the past (2020), we have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting (which has been remediated in 2021), and we cannot assure that
significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of
our internal control over financial reporting, as the laws, regulations and policies standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to
conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. If we fail to
maintain an effective internal control environment, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements, fail to meet our reporting obligations or fail to prevent fraud,
which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, the trading price of our Class A common shares could decline, and we could be subject
to sanctions or investigations by NASDAQ, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any future material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting,
or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies in the United States, could also restrict our future access to capital markets and reduce or
eliminate the trading market for our Class A common shares.
We may be adversely affected by the ongoing armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
As a result of the current geopolitical tensions and conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the recent recognition by Russia of the independence of the self-proclaimed
republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the governments of the United States, the European Union, Japan and other jurisdictions have recently
announced the imposition of sanctions on certain industry sectors and parties in Russia, Belarus and the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as enhanced export controls on
certain products and industries. These and any additional sanctions and export controls, as well as any counter responses by the governments of Russia or other jurisdictions,
could adversely affect, directly or indirectly, the global supply chain, with negative implications on the availability of raw materials, energy prices, and our customers, as well as the
local and global financial markets and financial services industry and the global economy in general, which has also been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Climate change can create transition risks, physical risks and other risks that could adversely affect us.
Climate risk is a transversal risk that can be an aggravating factor for the types of traditional risks that we manage in the ordinary course of business, including, without
limitation, the risks described in this "Risk Factors” section. Based on the classifications used by the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, we consider that there
are two primary sources of climate change-related financial risks: physical and transition.
Physical risks resulting from climate change can be event-driven (acute) or long-term shifts (chronic) in climate patterns:
·
Acute physical risks include increased severity of extreme weather events, such as drought, hurricanes, or floods;
·
Chronic physical risks include changes in precipitation patterns and extreme variability in weather patterns, rising mean temperatures, chronic heat waves or rising
sea levels;
The main physical risks that can impact us are acute physical risks that can disrupt our supply chain, or prevent our schools from operating normally.
Transition risks refer to actions to address mitigation and adaptation requirements related to climate change, and they can fall into various categories such as market and
technology changes:
·
Market risk may manifest through shifts in supply and demand for certain commodities, products, and services, as climate-related risks and opportunities are
increasingly considered.
·
Technology risk arises from improvements or innovations to support the transition to a lower-carbon, energy-efficient economic system that can have a significant
impact on companies to the extent that new technology displaces old systems and disrupts some parts of the existing economic system. One of our strategies to
minimize our carbon footprint is to reduce the number of physical pages we print as part our printed educational materials by making those educational materials
available to students digitally on our online platform.
Policy actions generally fall into two categories: those that attempt to constrain actions that contribute to the adverse effects of climate change and those that seek to promote
adaptation to climate change. The risk associated with, and the financial impact of policy changes depend on the nature and timing of the policy change.
Our schools may be adversely affected by increased regulatory requirements going forward as a result of the increasing importance of environmental matters, which may
indirectly affect our business. This and other changes in regulations in Brazil and international markets may expose us to increased compliance costs, limit our ability to pursue
certain business opportunities and provide certain products and services, each of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Certain Risks Relating to Brazil
The Brazilian federal government has exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over the Brazilian economy. This involvement as well as Brazil’s political
and economic conditions could harm us and the price of our Class A common shares.
The Brazilian federal government frequently exercises significant influence over the Brazilian economy and occasionally makes significant changes in policy and regulations.
The Brazilian government’s actions to control inflation and other policies and regulations have often involved, among other measures, increases or decreases in interest rates,
changes in fiscal policies, wage and price controls, foreign exchange rate controls, blocking access to bank accounts, currency devaluations, capital controls and import and export
restrictions. We have no control over and cannot predict what measures or policies the Brazilian government may take in the future. We and the market price of our securities may
be harmed by changes in Brazilian government policies, as well as general economic factors, including, without limitation:
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·
growth or downturn of the Brazilian economy;
·
interest rates and monetary policies;
·
exchange rates and currency fluctuations;
·
inflation;
·
liquidity of the domestic capital and lending markets, in particular in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic;
·
import and export controls;
·
exchange controls and restrictions on remittances abroad and payments of dividends;
·
modifications to laws and regulations according to political, social and economic interests;
·
fiscal policy and changes in tax laws;
·
economic, political and social instability, including general strikes and mass demonstrations;
·
the regulatory framework governing the educational industry;
·
labor and social security regulations;
·
energy and water shortages and rationing;
·
commodity prices;
·
changes in demographics, in particular declining birth rates, which will result in a decrease in the number of enrolled students in education in the future; and
·
other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil.
Uncertainty over whether the Brazilian federal government will implement reforms or changes in policy or regulation affecting these or other factors in the future may affect
economic performance and contribute to economic uncertainty in Brazil, which may have an adverse effect on our activities and consequently our operating results, and may also
adversely affect the trading price of our Class A common shares. Recent economic and political instability has led to a negative perception of the Brazilian economy and higher
volatility in the Brazilian securities markets, which also may adversely affect us and our Class A common shares. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—
Significant Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations—Brazilian Macroeconomic Environment.”
Economic uncertainty and political instability in Brazil may harm our business and the price of our Class A common shares.
Brazil’s political environment has historically influenced, and continues to influence, the performance of the country’s economy. Political crises have affected and continue to
affect the confidence of investors and the general public, which have historically resulted in economic deceleration and heightened volatility in the securities offered by companies
with significant operations in Brazil. This scenario is further aggravated when analyzed together with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may adversely affect our
business, operations, results and share price.
The recent economic instability in Brazil has contributed to a decline in market confidence in the Brazilian economy as well as to a deteriorating political environment. In
addition, various ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption being conducted by the Office of the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor, including the
largest such investigation, known as "Operação Lava Jato,” have negatively impacted the Brazilian economy and political environment. The potential outcome of these
investigations is uncertain, but they have already had an adverse impact on the image and reputation of the implicated companies, and on the general market perception of the
Brazilian economy. We cannot predict whether the ongoing investigations will result in further political and economic instability, or if new allegations against government officials
and/or executives of private companies will arise in the future.
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In addition, political demonstrations in Brazil over the last few years have affected the development of the Brazilian economy and investors’ perceptions of Brazil. For example,
street protests, which started in mid-2013 and continued through 2016, demonstrated the public’s dissatisfaction with the worsening Brazilian economic condition (including an
increase in inflation and fuel prices as well as rising unemployment), and the perception of widespread corruption. Moreover, on October 30, 2022, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva won the
Brazilian presidential election and took office on January 1, 2023. It is unclear if and for how long the political divisions that arose before the election will continue under President
Lula’s presidency and the effects that such divisions will have on his ability to govern Brazil and implement reforms. Since the results of the presidential election have been
announced and as of the date of this annual report, certain groups formed by extreme supporters of the defeated candidate have been organizing public demonstrations and
protests against the electronic ballot boxes and the existence of an alleged conspiracy against their candidate. Any attempts to contest or otherwise undermine the results of the
election, or other potential threats to the democratic system, may result in deterioration of the political environment and, as a consequence, affect the confidence of investors and
the general public. The continuation of any such political divisions may result in a congressional impasse, political unrest, protests or strikes that materially adversely affect us.
In addition, uncertainties relating to the implementation by the new Brazilian government of changes to monetary, fiscal and social security policy and related legislation may
contribute to economic instability. These uncertainties and new measures may increase the volatility of the Brazilian capital markets. Aa failure by the Brazilian government to
implement necessary reforms may result in diminished confidence in the Brazilian government’s budgetary condition and fiscal stance, which could result in downgrades of Brazil’s
sovereign foreign credit rating by credit rating agencies, negatively impact Brazil’s economy, and lead to further depreciation of the real and an increase in inflation and interest
rates, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any of the above factors may harm the Brazilian economy and, consequently, our
business and the price of our Class A common shares.
Inflation and certain measures by the Brazilian government to curb inflation have historically harmed the Brazilian economy and Brazilian capital markets, and high
levels of inflation in the future would harm our business and the price of our Class A common shares.
In the past, Brazil has experienced extremely high rates of inflation. Inflation and some of the measures taken by the Brazilian government in an attempt to curb inflation have
had significant negative effects on the Brazilian economy generally. Inflation, policies adopted to curb inflationary pressures and uncertainties regarding possible future
governmental intervention have contributed to economic uncertainty and heightened volatility in the Brazilian capital markets.
According to the National Consumer Price Index (Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo, or IPCA), which is published by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and
Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, or IBGE), Brazilian inflation rates were 4.5%, 10.1% and 5.8% as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Brazil
may experience high levels of inflation in the future and inflationary pressures may lead to the Brazilian government intervening in the economy and introducing policies that could
harm our business and the trading price of our Class A common shares. In the past, the Brazilian government’s interventions included the maintenance of a restrictive monetary
policy with high interest rates that restricted credit availability and reduced economic growth, causing volatility in interest rates. For example, the official interest rate in Brazil
decreased from 14.25% as of December 31, 2015, to 4.50% as of December 31, 2018, as established by the Monetary Policy Committee (Comitê de Política Monetária do Banco
Central do Brasil), or COPOM. On February 7, 2018, the COPOM reduced the base interest rate (Sistema Especial de Liquidação e Custódia) or the SELIC rate, to 6.75% and
further reduced the SELIC rate to 6.50% on March 21, 2018. The COPOM reconfirmed the SELIC rate of 6.50% on May 16, 2018, and subsequently on June 20, 2018. As of December
31, 2018, the SELIC rate was 6.50%. The COPOM reconfirmed the SELIC rate of 6.50% on February 6, 2019, but reduced the SELIC rate to 6.00% on August 1, 2019 and further
reduced the rate to 4.50% on December 12, 2019. On February 5, 2020, the COPOM reduced the SELIC rate to 4.25% and further reduced the rate to 3.75% on March 18, 2020, to
3.00% on June 5, 2020, to 2.25% on June 17, 2020, to 2.00% on August 5, 2020. On March 17, 2021, the COPOM raised the SELIC rate to 2.75% and further raised the SELIC rate to
3.50% on May 5, 2021, to 4.25% on June 16, 2021, to 5.25% on August 4, 2021, to 6.25% on September 22, 2021, to 7.75% on October 27, 2021, to 9.25% on December 8, 2021, to
10.75% on February 2, 2022 and to 11.75% on March 16, 2022. As of the date of this annual report, the SELIC rate is 13.75%. Conversely, more lenient government and Central Bank
policies and interest rate decreases have triggered and may continue to trigger increases in inflation, and, consequently, growth volatility and the need for sudden and significant
interest rate increases, which could negatively affect us and our financial condition.
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Exchange rate instability may have adverse effects on the Brazilian economy, us and the price of our Class A common shares.
The Brazilian currency has been historically volatile and has been devalued frequently over the past three decades. Throughout this period, the Brazilian government has
implemented various economic plans and used various exchange rate policies, including sudden devaluations, periodic mini-devaluations (during which the frequency of
adjustments has ranged from daily to monthly), exchange controls, dual exchange rate markets and a floating exchange rate system. Although long-term depreciation of the real is
generally linked to the rate of inflation in Brazil, depreciation of the real occurring over shorter periods of time has resulted in significant variations in the exchange rate between the
real, the U.S. dollar and other currencies.
The real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$4.031 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2019, which reflected a 4.0% depreciation in the real against the U.S.
dollar during 2019. The real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$5.196 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2020, which reflected a 22.4% depreciation in the real
against the U.S. dollar during 2020. The real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$5.580 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2021, which reflected a 7.3%
depreciation in the real against the U.S. dollar during 2020. On December 31, 2022, the exchange rate of U.S. dollar as reported by the Central Bank was R$5.218 per US$1.00, which
reflected a 6.5% appreciation in the real against the U.S. dollar since December 31, 2021. As of April 26, 2023, the exchange rate for the sale of U.S. dollars as reported by the Central
Bank was R$5.059 per US$1.00, which reflected an appreciation of 3.1% in the real against the U.S. dollar since December 31, 2022. There can be no assurance that the real will not
again depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar or other currencies in the future.
A devaluation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar could create inflationary pressures in Brazil and cause the Brazilian government to, among other measures, increase interest
rates. Any depreciation of the real may generally restrict access to the international capital markets. It would also reduce the U.S. dollar value of our results of operations.
Restrictive macroeconomic policies could reduce the stability of the Brazilian economy and harm our results of operations and profitability. In addition, domestic and international
reactions to restrictive economic policies could have a negative impact on the Brazilian economy. These policies and any reactions to them may harm us by curtailing access to
foreign financial markets and prompting further government intervention. A devaluation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar may also, as in the context of the current economic
slowdown, decrease consumer spending, increase deflationary pressures and reduce economic growth.
On the other hand, an appreciation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies may deteriorate the Brazilian foreign exchange current accounts.
Depending on the circumstances, either devaluation or appreciation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies could restrict the growth of the Brazilian
economy, as well as our business, results of operations and profitability.
Infrastructure and workforce deficiency in Brazil may impact economic growth and have a material adverse effect on us.
Our performance depends on the overall health and growth of the Brazilian economy. Brazilian GDP growth has fluctuated over the past few years, with growth of 3.0% in 2013
but decreasing to 0.5% in 2014, a contraction of 3.5% in 2015, a contraction of 3.3% in 2016, a growth of 1.0% in 2017, a growth of 1.1% in 2018 and 1.1% in 2019, a contraction of
4.1% in 2020, a growth of 4.6% in 2021, and a growth of 3.0% in 2022. Growth is limited by inadequate infrastructure, including potential energy shortages and deficient
transportation, logistics and telecommunication sectors, general strikes, the lack of a qualified labor force, and the lack of private and public investments in these areas, which limit
productivity and efficiency. Any of these factors could lead to labor market volatility and generally impact income, purchasing power and consumption levels, which could limit
growth and ultimately have a material adverse effect on us.
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Developments and the perceptions of risks in other countries, including other emerging markets, the United States and Europe, may harm the Brazilian economy and the
price of our Class A common shares.
The market for securities offered by companies with significant operations in Brazil is influenced by economic and market conditions in Brazil and, to varying degrees, market
conditions in other Latin American and emerging markets, as well as the United States, Europe and other countries. To the extent the conditions of the global markets or economy
deteriorate, including as a result of, among other things, the ongoing war between Russian and the Ukraine, the COVID-19 outbreak, the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the
European Union, the business of companies with significant operations in Brazil may be harmed. The weakness in the global economy has been marked by, among other adverse
factors, lower levels of consumer and corporate confidence, decreased business investment and consumer spending, increased unemployment, reduced income and asset values in
many areas, reduction of China’s growth rate, currency volatility and limited availability of credit and access to capital. Developments or economic conditions in other emerging
market countries have at times significantly affected the availability of credit to companies with significant operations in Brazil and resulted in considerable outflows of funds from
Brazil, decreasing the amount of foreign investments in Brazil. These developments, as well as potential crises and forms of political instability arising therefrom or any other as of
yet unforeseen development, may harm our business and the price of our Class A common shares.
In addition, public health crises, pandemics and epidemics, could have a material adverse effect on global, national and local economies, as well as on our business, our
subsidiaries and our students by disrupting our activities and delaying transactional activities (including acquisitions). For instance, the outbreak of COVID-19 has severely
impacted global economic activity and caused significant volatility and negative pressure in the financial markets. The potential impact of a pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of a
contagious disease on our subsidiaries and our students is difficult to predict, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, as well
as heighten the volatility of the price of our Class A common shares. See "—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Public health outbreaks, epidemics or
pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business.”
Any further downgrading of Brazil’s credit rating could reduce the trading price of our Class A common shares.
We and the trading price of our Class A common shares may be harmed by investors’ perceptions of risks related to Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating. Rating agencies
regularly evaluate Brazil and its sovereign credit ratings, which are based on a number of factors, including macroeconomic trends, fiscal and budgetary conditions, indebtedness
metrics and the perspective of changes in any of these factors.
The rating agencies began to review Brazil’s sovereign credit rating in September 2015. Subsequently, the three major rating agencies downgraded Brazil’s investment-grade
status:
·
In 2015, Standard & Poor’s initially downgraded Brazil’s credit rating from BBB-negative to BB-positive and subsequently downgraded it again from BB-positive to BB,
maintaining its negative outlook, citing a worse credit situation since the first downgrade. On January 11, 2018, Standard & Poor’s further downgraded Brazil’s credit
rating from BB to BB-negative, and on December 11, 2019, the agency affirmed the rating at BB- and revised the outlook on Brazil to positive. On April 7, 2020, the rating
was reaffirmed as BB- with a stable outlook, reflecting uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, along with how extraordinary government spending would
adversely affect the fiscal performance in 2020. On November 30, 2021 and June 15, 2022, Standard & Poor’s further reaffirmed Brazil’s rating at BB- with a stable outlook.
·
In December 2015, Moody’s placed Brazil’s Baa3’s issue and bond ratings under review for downgrade and subsequently downgraded the issue and bond ratings to
below investment grade, at Ba2 with a negative outlook, citing the prospect of a further deterioration in Brazil’s debt indicators, taking into account the low growth
environment and the challenging political scenario. On April 9, 2018, Moody’s revised the outlook to stable, reaffirming the Ba2 rating. In September 2020, Moody’s
maintained Brazil’s credit rating at Ba2 with a stable outlook. In May 2020, Moody’s confirmed Brazil’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating at Ba2
maintaining the stable outlook. On May 25, 2021 and April 12, 2022, Moody’s further reaffirmed Brazil’s rating at Ba2 with a stable outlook.
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·
Fitch downgraded Brazil’s sovereign credit rating to BB-positive with a negative outlook, citing the rapid expansion of the country’s budget deficit and the worse-than-
expected recession. In February 2018, Fitch downgraded Brazil’s sovereign credit rating again to BB-negative, citing, among other reasons, fiscal deficits, the increasing
burden of public debt and an inability to implement reforms that would structurally improve Brazil’s public finances. In November 2020, Fitch Ratings affirmed Brazil’s
long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating at BB- with a negative outlook. On December 14, 2021, Fitch further reaffirmed Brazil’s credit rating at BB-negative with
a negative outlook. On July 14, 2022, while reaffirming Brazil’s credit rating at BB-negative, Fitch changed its outlook on Brazil’s credit rating to a positive outlook.
Brazil’s sovereign credit rating is currently rated below investment grade by the three main credit rating agencies. Consequently, the prices of securities offered by companies
with significant operations in Brazil have been negatively affected. A prolongation or worsening of the current Brazilian recession and continued political uncertainty, among other
factors, could lead to further ratings downgrades. Any further downgrade of Brazil’s sovereign foreign credit ratings could heighten investors’ perception of risk and, as a result,
cause the trading price of our Class A common shares to decline.
Certain Risks Relating to Our Class A Common Shares
An active trading market for our Class A common shares may not be sustainable. If an active trading market is not maintained, investors may not be able to resell their
shares and our ability to raise capital in the future may be impaired.
Although our Class A common shares are listed and being traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, an active trading market for our shares may not be maintained. If an
active market for our Class A common shares is not maintained, it may be difficult for you to sell shares without depressing the market price for the shares or at all. An inactive
trading market may also impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by
using our shares as consideration. In addition to the risks described above, the market price of our Class A common shares may be influenced by many factors, some of which are
beyond our control, including:
·
announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts or acquisitions;
·
technological innovations by us or competitors;
·
the failure of financial analysts to cover our Class A common shares or changes in financial estimates by analysts;
·
actual or anticipated variations in our operating results;
·
changes in financial estimates by financial analysts, or any failure by us to meet or exceed any of these estimates, or changes in the recommendations of any financial
analysts that elect to follow our Class A common shares or the shares of our competitors;
·
future sales of our shares; and
·
investor perceptions of us and the industries in which we operate.
In addition, the stock market in general has experienced substantial price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating
performance of particular companies affected. These broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our Class A common shares, regardless of our
operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of certain companies’ securities, securities class action litigation has been instituted against
these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. If a market is not maintained, the liquidity and price
of our Class A common shares could be seriously harmed.
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The concentration of ownership and voting power in Bertelsmann, our controlling shareholder, limits your ability to influence corporate matters.
Bertelsmann, our controlling shareholder, as of the date of this annual report, owns 63.5% of our outstanding Class B common shares, which, together with its ownership of
20.4% of our outstanding Class A common shares, represent approximately 41.5% of our issued share capital and 59.4% of the voting power of our issued share capital, and,
together with the Esteves Family, controls all matters requiring shareholder approval. Our Class B common shares are entitled to 10 votes per share and our Class A common
shares, which are the common shares trading on NASDAQ, are entitled to one vote per share. Our Class B common shares are convertible into an equivalent number of Class A
common shares and generally convert into Class A common shares upon transfer subject to limited exceptions. As a result, Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family will control the
outcome of all of our decisions at our shareholders’ meetings, and Bertelsmann alone is able to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors. The decisions of
Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family on these matters may be contrary to your expectations or preferences, and they may take actions that could be contrary to your interests.
They are able to prevent any other shareholders, including you, from blocking these actions. For further information regarding shareholdings in our company, see "Item 7. Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major Shareholders.”
So long as Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family continue to beneficially own a sufficient number of Class B common shares, even if they beneficially own significantly less
than 50% of our outstanding share capital, acting together, they will be able to effectively control the outcome of all decisions at our shareholders’ meetings. For example, if our
Class B common shares amounted to 15% of our outstanding common shares, beneficial owners of our Class B common shares (consisting of the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann),
would collectively control 63.8% of the voting power of our outstanding common shares. If Bertelsmann sells or transfers any of its Class B common shares, they will generally
convert automatically into Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions, such as transfers to affiliates, to trustees for the holder or its affiliates and certain transfers to U.S.
tax exempt organizations. The fact that any Class B common shares convert into Class A common shares if Bertelsmann sells or transfers them means that Bertelsmann will in many
situations continue to control a majority of the combined voting power of our outstanding share capital, due to the voting rights of any Class B common shares that it will retain.
However, if our Class B common shares at any time represent less than 10% of the total number of shares in the capital of the Company outstanding, the Class B common shares
then outstanding will automatically convert into Class A common shares. For a description of our dual class equity structure, see "Item 10. Additional Information—B.
Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital.”
Class A common shares eligible for future sale may cause the market price of our Class A common shares to drop significantly.
The market price of our Class A common shares may decline as a result of sales of a large number of our Class A common shares in the market (including Class A common
shares issuable upon conversion of Class B common shares) or the perception that these sales may occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might
make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.
As of December 31, 2022, we have outstanding 47,920,068 Class A common shares and 45,802,763 Class B common shares which, except as set forth below, are freely tradable
without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act by persons other than our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
Our shareholders or entities controlled by them or their permitted transferees will be able to sell their shares in the public market from time to time without registering them,
subject to certain limitations on the timing, amount and method of those sales imposed by regulations promulgated by the SEC.
If any of our shareholders, the affiliated entities controlled by them or their respective permitted transferees were to sell a large number of their shares, including common
shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, the market price of our Class A common shares may decline significantly. In addition, the
perception in the public markets that sales by them might occur may also adversely affect the market price of our Class A common shares.
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Our Articles of Association contain anti-takeover provisions that may discourage a third party from acquiring us and adversely affect the rights of holders of our Class A
common shares.
Our Articles of Association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire our control, including a provision that grants authority to our board of
directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred
shares, the terms and rights of that series. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the
prevailing market price by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain our control in a tender offer or similar transactions.
If securities or industry analysts publish inaccurate or unfavorable research, about our business, the price of our Class A common shares and our trading volume could
decline.
The trading market for our Class A common shares will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our
market or our competitors. In the event one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades us or releases negative publicity about our Class A common shares, our share price
would likely decline.
Further, as we are not required to publish quarterly financial information, if we cease to publish that information, any analysts covering us may not have enough information to
compare us to our peers on a regular basis and may choose to cease coverage. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to regularly publish reports on us,
interest in our Class A common shares may decrease, which may cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
It is unlikely that we will declare any dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future and therefore, you must rely on price appreciation of our common shares
for a return on your investment.
We do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Instead, we intend to retain earnings, if any, to fund the operation of our business and future growth.
Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our general meeting of shareholders, acting pursuant to a proposal by our board of
directors, or by our board, and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions (including under our
outstanding Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares) and other factors that our general meeting of shareholders or board of directors may deem relevant. Accordingly,
investors will most likely have to rely on sales of their common shares, which may increase or decrease in value, as the only way to realize cash from their investment. As a result,
capital appreciation in the price of our Class A common shares, if any, will be your only source of gain on an investment in our Class A common shares. There is no guarantee that
the price of our common shares will ever exceed the price that you pay.
Our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares have rights, preferences and privileges that are not held by, and are preferential to, the rights of our common shares,
which could adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, and may result in the interests of the holders of our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares
differing from those of our common shareholders.
The Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares ranks senior to our common shares with respect to dividend rights and rights on the distribution of assets on any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. The holders of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares have the right to receive a liquidation
preference entitling them to be paid out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders before any payment may be made to holders of any other class or series of our share
capital, an amount equal to the greater of (a) the sum of the original liquidation preference plus all accrued but unpaid dividends or (b) the amount that such holder would have
been entitled to receive upon our liquidation, dissolution and winding up if all outstanding shares of such series of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares had been
converted into common shares immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In addition, the holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are
entitled to a cumulative dividend at the rate of 6.5% per annum. The holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are also entitled to participate in dividends
declared or paid on our common shares on an as-converted basis. The holders of our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares also have the right, subject to certain
exceptions, to require us to repurchase all or any portion of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares upon certain change of control events at the repurchase price set
forth in the applicable certificate of designations.
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These dividend and share repurchase obligations could impact our liquidity and reduce the amount of cash flows available for general corporate purposes. Our obligations to
the holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares could also limit our ability to obtain additional financing or increase our borrowing costs, which could have an
adverse effect on our financial condition. These preferential rights could also result in divergent interests between the holders of shares of Series A perpetual convertible preferred
shares and holders of our common shares.
The issuance of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares reduces the relative voting power of holders of our common stock, and the conversion and sale of those
shares would dilute the ownership of holders of common shares and may adversely affect the market price of our common shares.
As of December 31, 2022, 150,000 Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares were outstanding, representing approximately 6.6% of our outstanding common shares,
including the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares on an as-converted basis. Holders of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are entitled to a cumulative
dividend at the rate of 6.5% per annum. Because holders of our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are entitled to vote on certain matters described in "—SoftBank and
any other holders of our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares may exercise influence over us,” the issuance of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, and
the subsequent issuance of additional Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, effectively reduce the relative voting power of the holders of our common shares.
In addition, the conversion of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares into common shares would dilute the ownership interest of existing holders of our common
shares. Furthermore, any sales in the public market of the common shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares would increase the
number of shares of our common shares available for public trading, and could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common shares. Sales of a substantial number of
shares of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales might occur, could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common shares.
SoftBank and any other holders of our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares may exercise influence over us.
As of December 31, 2022, outstanding Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares represented approximately 6.6% of our outstanding common shares, including the Series
A perpetual convertible preferred shares on an as-converted basis. The terms of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares require the approval of a majority of our Series
A perpetual convertible preferred shares by a separate class vote for us to take the following decisions, among others described in the respective certificate of designations:
·
amend our organizational documents in a manner that would have an adverse effect on the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares; or
·
issue securities that are senior to, or equal in priority with, the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares.
Circumstances may occur in which the interests of SoftBank and its affiliates could diverge from, or even conflict with, the interests of our other shareholders. For example, the
existence of SoftBank as a significant shareholder may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or management or limiting the ability of our other shareholders
to approve transactions that they may deem to be in our best interests. SoftBank and its affiliates may seek to cause us to take courses of action that, in their judgment, could
enhance its investment in us but which might involve risks to our other shareholders or adversely affect us or our other shareholders.
Our dual class equity structure means our shares will not be included in certain indices. We cannot predict the impact this may have on our share price.
In 2017, FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones and MSCI announced changes to their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices to exclude
companies with multiple classes of shares of common stock from being added to such indices. FTSE Russell announced plans to require new constituents of its indices to have at
least five percent of their voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, whereas S&P Dow Jones announced that companies with multiple share classes, such as ours, will not
be eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. MSCI also opened public consultations on their
treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from its ACWI Investable Market Index and U.S. Investable Market 2500 Index;
however, in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities "with unequal voting structures” in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically
includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria.
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We cannot assure you that other stock indices will not take a similar approach to FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones and MSCI in the future. Under the announced policies, our
dual class equity structure would make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these indices and, as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that
attempt to passively track these indices will not invest in our stock. It continues to be somewhat unclear what effect, if any, these policies will have on the valuations of publicly
traded companies excluded from the indices, but in certain situations they may depress these valuations compared to those of other similar companies that are included. Exclusion
from indices could make our Class A common shares less attractive to investors and, as a result, the market price of our Class A common shares could be adversely affected.
The dual class equity structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting control with Bertelsmann; this will limit or preclude your ability to influence
corporate matters.
Each Class A common share entitles its holder to one vote per share, and each Class B common share entitles its holder to 10 votes per share, so long as the total number of
the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is at least 10% of the total number of shares outstanding. Due to the 10-to-one voting ratio between our Class B and Class A
common shares, the beneficial owners of our Class B common shares (composed of the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann) collectively will continue to control a majority of the
combined voting power of our common shares and therefore be able to control all matters submitted to our shareholders so long as the total number of the issued and outstanding
Class B common shares is at least 10% of the total number of shares outstanding.
In addition, our Articles of Association provide that at any time when there are Class A common shares in issue, additional Class B common shares may only be issued
pursuant to (1) a share split, subdivision of shares or similar transaction or where a dividend or other distribution is paid by the issue of shares or rights to acquire shares or
following capitalization of profits, (2) a merger, consolidation, or other business combination involving the issuance of Class B common shares as full or partial consideration, or
(3) an issuance of Class A common shares, whereby holders of the Class B common shares are entitled to purchase a number of Class B common shares that would allow them to
maintain their proportional ownership interests in Afya (following an offer by us to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder, upon the same economic terms
and at the same price, such number of Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in Afya pursuant to our Articles of
Association).
Future transfers by holders of Class B common shares will generally result in those shares converting to Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions, such as certain
transfers effected to permitted transferees or for estate planning or charitable purposes. The conversion of Class B common shares to Class A common shares will have the effect,
over time, of increasing the relative voting power of those holders of Class B common shares who retain their shares in the long term.
In light of the above provisions relating to the issuance of additional Class B common shares, the fact that future transfers by holders of Class B common shares will generally
result in those shares converting to Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions as provided in the Articles of Association; as well as the 10-to-one voting ratio of our
Class B common shares and Class A common shares, holders of our Class B common shares will in many situations continue to maintain control of all matters requiring shareholder
approval. This concentrated control will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For a description of our dual class equity structure,
see "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital—Voting Rights.”
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. The rights of our shareholders, including with respect to fiduciary duties and corporate opportunities,
may be different from the rights of shareholders governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association and by the laws of the Cayman Islands.
The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of members of our board of directors may be different from the rights of shareholders and responsibilities of directors in
companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, as a matter of Cayman Islands law, directors of a Cayman Islands company owe fiduciary duties to the company
and separately a duty of care, diligence and skill to the company.
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Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties: (i) duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best
interests of the company as a whole; (ii) duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; (iii) directors should not
improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; (iv) duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders; (v) duty to exercise independent judgment; and
(vi) duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. Our Articles of Association have varied
this last obligation by providing that a director must disclose the nature and extent of his or her interest in any contract or arrangement, and following such disclosure and subject
to any separate requirement under applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting, such director may vote in
respect of any transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested and may be counted in the quorum at the meeting. Conversely, under Delaware corporate law, a director
has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its stockholders (made up of two components) and the director’s duties prohibit self-dealing by a director and mandate that the best
interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders
generally. See "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital—Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and
U.S. Corporate Law.”
We may need to raise additional capital in the future by issuing securities, use our Class A common shares as acquisition consideration or enter into corporate transactions
with an effect similar to a merger, which may dilute your interest in our share capital and affect the trading price of our Class A common shares.
We may need to raise additional funds to grow our business and implement our growth strategy going forward through public or private issuances of common shares or
securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common shares, which may dilute your interest in our share capital or result in a decrease in the market price of our common
shares. In addition, we may also use our Class A common shares as acquisition consideration or enter into mergers or other similar transactions in the future, which may dilute your
interest in our share capital or result in a decrease in the market price of our Class A common shares. Any fundraising through the issuance of shares or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for shares, the use of our Class A common shares as acquisition consideration, or the participation in corporate transactions with an effect similar to a merger, may
dilute your interest in our capital stock or result in a decrease in the market price of our Class A common shares.
As a foreign private issuer, we have different disclosure and other requirements than U.S. domestic registrants and non-emerging growth companies.
As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different disclosure and other requirements than domestic U.S. registrants. For example, as a foreign private issuer, in the United
States, we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a domestic U.S. registrant under the Exchange Act, including the requirements to prepare and issue quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q or to file current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events, the proxy rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under
Section 14 of the Exchange Act or the insider reporting and short-swing profit rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we
rely on exemptions from certain U.S. rules which permit us to follow Cayman Islands legal requirements rather than certain of the requirements that are applicable to U.S. domestic
registrants.
We follow Cayman Islands laws and regulations that are applicable to Cayman Islands companies. However, Cayman Islands laws and regulations applicable to Cayman
Islands companies do not contain any provisions comparable to the U.S. proxy rules, the U.S. rules relating to the filing of reports on Form 10-Q or 8-K or the U.S. rules relating to
liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time, as referred to above.
Furthermore, foreign private issuers are required to file their annual report on Form 20-F within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are
accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. Foreign private issuers are also exempt from Regulation Fair
Disclosure, aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information, although we will be subject to Cayman Islands laws and regulations having
substantially the same effect as Regulation Fair Disclosure. As a result of the above, even though we are required to file reports on Form 6-K disclosing the limited information
which we have made or are required to make public pursuant to Cayman Islands law, or are required to distribute to shareholders generally, and that is material to us, you may not
receive information of the same type or amount that is required to be disclosed to shareholders of a U.S. company.
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As a foreign private issuer, we rely on permitted exemptions from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, including the requirement that
a majority of an issuer’s directors consist of independent directors. This may afford less protection to holders of our Class A common shares.
Section 5605 of the Nasdaq equity rules requires listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of their board members be independent, and to have independent
director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and corporate governance matters. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we will,
follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. See "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital
—Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and U.S. Corporate Law.”
We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act’s domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur significant
legal, accounting and other expenses.
In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, either (a) more than 50% of our Class A common shares must be either directly or indirectly owned of record
by non-residents of the United States or (b)(i) a majority of our executive officers or directors may not be U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets cannot be
located in the United States and (iii) our business must be administered principally outside the United States. If we lose this status, we would be required to comply with the
Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers. We
may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC and Nasdaq rules. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under
U.S. securities laws if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher than the costs we will incur as a
foreign private issuer.
Our shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests because we are a Cayman Islands exempted company.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association, by the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The
rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under the laws of the Cayman Islands are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or
judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. Therefore, you may have more difficulty protecting your interests than would shareholders of a corporation
incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, due to the comparatively less formal nature of Cayman Islands law in this area.
While Cayman Islands law allows a dissenting shareholder to express the shareholder’s view that a court-sanctioned reorganization (by way of a scheme of arrangement) of a
Cayman Islands company would not provide fair value for the shareholder’s shares, Cayman Islands statutory law does not specifically provide for shareholder appraisal rights in
connection with a court sanctioned reorganization (by way of a scheme of arrangement). This may make it more difficult for you to assess the value of any consideration you may
receive in a merger or consolidation or to require that the acquirer gives you additional consideration if you believe the consideration offered is insufficient. However, Cayman
Islands statutory law provides a mechanism for a dissenting shareholder in a merger or consolidation to apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for a determination of the
fair value of the dissenter’s shares if it is not possible for the company and the dissenter to agree on a fair price within the time limits prescribed.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies (such as us) have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records and accounts or to obtain
copies of lists of shareholders. Our directors have discretion under our Articles of Association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may
be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain information needed to establish
any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
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United States civil liabilities and certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, the majority of our directors and officers
are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. A substantial portion of the assets of these persons is located outside of the United States. As a result, it
may be difficult to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons. It may also be difficult to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts based
on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors who are not resident in the United States and the substantial majority of
whose assets are located outside of the United States.
Further, it is unclear if original actions predicated on civil liabilities based solely upon U.S. federal securities laws are enforceable in courts outside the United States, including
in the Cayman Islands and Brazil. Courts of the Cayman Islands may not, in an original action in the Cayman Islands, recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts predicated
upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state of the United States on the grounds that such provisions are penal in nature. Although
there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign judgment of
a court of competent jurisdiction if such judgment is final, for a liquidated sum, provided it is not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands’
judgment in respect of the same matters, and was not obtained in a manner which is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands. In addition, a Cayman Islands court may
stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
Judgments of Brazilian courts to enforce our obligations with respect to our Class A common shares may be payable only in reais.
Most of our assets are located in Brazil. If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of our Class A common shares, we may
not be required to discharge our obligations in a currency other than the real. Under Brazilian exchange control laws, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a
currency other than the real may only be satisfied in Brazilian currency at the exchange rate, as determined by the Central Bank, in effect on the date the judgment is obtained, and
such amounts are then adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations through the effective payment date. The then-prevailing exchange rate may not afford non-Brazilian investors
with full compensation for any claim arising out of or related to our obligations under the Class A common shares.
Our Class A common shares may not be a suitable investment for all investors, as an investment in our Class A common shares presents risks and the possibility of financial
losses.
The investment in our Class A common shares is subject to risks. Investors who wish to invest in our Class A common shares are thus subject to asset losses, including loss
of the entire value of their investment, as well as other risks, including those related to our Class A common shares, us, the sector in which we operate, our shareholders and the
general macroeconomic environment in Brazil, among other risks.
Each potential investor in our Class A common shares must therefore determine the suitability of that investment in light of its own circumstances. In particular, each potential
investor should:
·
have sufficient knowledge and experience to make a meaningful evaluation of our Class A common shares, the merits and risks of investing in our Class A common shares
and the information contained in this annual report;
·
have access to, and knowledge of, appropriate analytical tools to evaluate, in the context of its particular financial situation, an investment in our Class A common shares
and the impact our Class A common shares will have on its overall investment portfolio;
·
have sufficient financial resources and liquidity to bear all of the risks of an investment in our Class A common shares;
·
understand thoroughly the terms of our Class A common shares and be familiar with the behavior of any relevant indices and financial markets; and
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·
be able to evaluate (either alone or with the help of a financial adviser) possible scenarios for economic, interest rate and other factors that may affect its investment and
its ability to bear the applicable risks.
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year, which could subject United States investors in our
Class A common shares to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code”), we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain look-through rules with
respect to subsidiaries, either (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of "passive income,” or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consists of assets
that produce, or are held for the production of, "passive income.” Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, certain non-active rents and royalties, and capital gains.
Cash is generally a passive asset for these purposes. Goodwill is an active asset to the extent attributable to activities that produce active income.
Based on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets, including goodwill (the implied value of which we estimate based on the price of our Class A
common shares), we believe that we were not a PFIC for the taxable year of 2022. However, because we hold a substantial amount of cash (relative to the assets shown on our
balance sheet) and because our PFIC status for any taxable year will depend on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which may
be determined, in part, by reference to the market price of our Class A common shares, which could be volatile), there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable
year. If our Class A common share price declines while we continue to hold a substantial amount of cash for any taxable year, our risk of being or becoming a PFIC will increase. In
addition, as we continue to expand our business through acquisitions and organically, our risk of becoming a PFIC will increase if we engage in activities that generate substantial
passive income. Moreover, the extent to which our goodwill will be treated as an active asset is not entirely clear. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. investor
holds Class A common shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. investor for all succeeding years during which the U.S. investor holds
Class A common shares, even if we ceased to meet the threshold requirement for PFIC status. Such a U.S. investor may be subject to certain adverse U.S. federal income tax
consequences. See "Item 10. Additional Information—10.E. Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
Afya Limited is a publicly held company listed on the Nasdaq since July 2019, and therefore subject to certain reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
We were incorporated on March 22, 2019 as a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability duly registered with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies. Our
corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have the authority to carry out any object not prohibited by law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the
Cayman Islands, or the Companies Act.
Our affairs are governed principally by (i) our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association; (ii) the Companies Act; and (iii) the common law of the
Cayman Islands. As provided in our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, subject to Cayman Islands law, we have full capacity to carry on or
undertake any business or activity, do any act or enter into any transaction, and, for such purposes, full rights, powers and privileges. Our registered office is c/o Maples
Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
The SEC maintains an internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically
with the SEC.
Our internet address is https://ir.afya.com.br/.
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Our History
We founded Afya Brazil with the goal of revolutionizing medical education in Brazil by providing a more effective, individualized and intuitive learning experience. In order to
achieve that, we have assembled institutions that collectively will help us fulfill our mission. The combination of Afya Brazil, one of the largest Brazilian medical education groups,
and Medcel, one of the leaders in residency exams preparatory courses, was the first step toward achieving our goal.
Afya benefits from over 20 years of medical education experience through Afya Brazil and Medcel, both of which were founded and managed by physicians, with a focus on
academic excellence and deep roots in technology and innovation.
We were founded in 1999 with the opening of our first medical school, Centro Universitário ITPAC, by the Esteves Family, a family of medical professionals with a passion for
medical education. Since its inception, our focus has been medical and related health courses. As of December 31, 2022, 18,104 physicians had graduated with us since the
founding of our predecessor companies. Over the last decade, Afya Brazil grew into a large medical education group, with several campuses and as of December 31, 2022, had
58,200 undergrad students, of which 35,935 were health-related students and 22,265 were non-health related students.
Medcel, which was incorporated into Afya Brazil in 2019, was founded by Dr. Atilio Barbosa in 2004, a pioneer in online medical preparatory courses. In 2007, Medcel launched
a proprietary platform to broadcast online classes. Over the years, Medcel evolved from its online platform into an adaptive digital learning environment where students can access
digital media, watch medical case studies, listen to podcasts and answer personalized quizzes. Finally, in 2018, Medcel began offering its high-quality tech-enabled content in
different formats and to other academic institutions. As of December 31, 2022, Medcel had 14,569 enrolled students and provided residency preparatory courses to 16 partner
institutions, as part of our B2B distribution network.
In 2016, the private equity group Crescera Investimentos (formerly Bozano Investimentos) joined forces with Afya Brazil and Medcel, laying out the foundations for the
creation of the largest medical education group in Brazil. See "—BR Health Investment in Afya Brazil” below. Crescera has since sold its interest in Afya to Bertelsmann. See "—
Acquisition of Crescera Shares by Bertelsmann” below.
The industry expertise of the founders of Afya Brazil and Medcel combined with the governance and financial support of Crescera Investimentos allowed the group to dive
deeper into its mission as a thematic educational service provider focused on the lifelong learning career of physicians in Brazil. We achieve this through the production and
distribution of high-quality content through technology.
In order to achieve our goals, we have laid the foundations of Afya focusing on a four-step process:
Management Professionalization
Our highly skilled and experienced management team has extensive experience in the education industry and were hired from some of the best health, education and
technology institutions in Brazil. Our management team is part of a company-wide strategy to attract and retain the best talent. Our CEO, Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon, has
over 14 years of experience in education. Our CFO, Luis André Blanco, has over 13 years of experience as CFO, and Lélio de Souza Junior, our Vice President of Innovation &
Digital Services, has more than 23 years of experience in tech companies.
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Integration of Processes & Services
In order to create synergies, we have developed several initiatives to improve operational efficiency and to integrate processes across all our campuses and operations. Our
high standard Shared Services Center and Integrated Systems (ERP + Academic System + Learning Management System) went live in October 2017. These initiatives will help us
grow our student base and keep our marginal costs low.
In 2017, we began to roll out the integration of the educational curriculum throughout all medical school units. This rollout begins with the new entrants curriculum and will be
fully completed as the course matures its students. Accordingly, we have been streamlining the teaching methodology and quality across our undergraduate medical courses.
Since the second half of 2019, all undergraduate medical students have access to our fully integrated Educational Curriculum.
Continuing Innovation
We take a blended approach to our methodology, integrating in-person teaching with online tools and features. By integrating face-to-face and online features through data
collection and analysis, we are able to individualize the student experience at all times. Through seven key initiatives, we create a 100% student-centric ecosystem. These initiatives
include: Medical content mapping, proprietary methodological assembly, significant learning experiences, comprehensive adaptive learning, daily learning process evaluation, and
practical learning and knowledge.
Organic Growth and Entry into Adjacent Markets
In 2018, the MEC awarded new licenses to Afya Brazil, allowing it, subject to the verification by the MEC of the satisfactory implementation by Afya Brazil of all regulatory
requirements, to operate seven new medical schools through the "Mais Médicos” program, with an aggregate amount of 350 new medical school seats per year. As of December
31, 2022, six of these campuses are already operating, as described below. We expect an additional campus to start operations in 2023.
On May 9, 2019, we consummated the acquisition of IPEMED, marking our entry into the medical graduate and specialization segment. IPEMED is a leading medical graduate
school founded over 13 years ago, with over 2,300 students across eleven different campuses.
On October 2, 2020, we announced that the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of the MEC granted authorization to Afya to operate the
undergraduate medicine course in Santa Inês in the State of Maranhão, under the Mais Médicos II program. This medical school is the first authorized in connection with the "Mais
Médicos” program for Afya and will contribute 50 seats to our operating seats base. Santa Inês is one of the seven undergraduate campuses Afya was awarded in 2018 in
connection with the "Mais Médicos” program, the largest number awarded to any education group. As of December 31, 2022, the campus is operational.
On December 30, 2020, the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of the MEC granted the authorization to Afya operate the undergraduate medicine
course in Cruzeiro do Sul in the State of Acre, under Mais Médicos II program. This medical school is the second authorized school in connection with the "Mais Médicos”
program for Afya and will contribute 50 seats to our operating seats base. Cruzeiro do Sul is one of the seven undergraduate campuses Afya was awarded in 2018 in connection
with the "Mais Médicos” program, the largest number awarded to any education group.
On February 23, 2022, we announced that the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education ("MEC”) authorized the operations of
the medical schools in Abaetutuba, in the State of Pará, and Itacoatiara, in the State of Amazonas, both under the Mais Médicos II program. With the authorizations, Afya reaches
its third and fourth authorized schools to start operating under the Mais Medicos II program. Each medical school will contribute with 50 seats. As of December 31, 2022, the
campuses are operational.
On March 16, 2022, the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of MEC authorized the operation of medical schools in Bragança, in the State of Pará, and
Manacapuru, in the State of Amazonas, both under the Mais Médicos II program (our fifth and sixth authorized schools under the Mais Medicos II program, respectively). Each
medical school will contribute with 50 seats. As of December 31, 2022, the campuses are operational.
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On March 18, 2022, the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of MEC authorized 28 seats additional at Centro Universitário São Lucas in Ji-Parana
State of Rondônia. With this authorization, we reach 2,759 approved seats. The earn-out related to the seats approval is R$800,000 per seat, adjusted by the CDI rate from the
closing until the payment date, of which 50% was paid in April 2022 and the remaining amount is payable in cash in two equal installments through 2024.
On December 29, 2022, Afya announced that MEC authorized the increase of 64 medical seats of Faculdade Santo Agostinho, in the city of Itabuna, located in the state of
Bahia. No additional commitment is required regarding this authorization.
The acquisitions of PEBMED, MedPhone, iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp, RX PRO, Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers and Glic marked our evolution
in the digital health services sector, complementing our end-to-end offering to healthcare professionals. For more information on PEBMED, MedPhone, iClinic, Medicinae, Medical
Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp, RX PRO, Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers and Glic, see "—B. Business Overview.”
BR Health Investment in Afya Brazil
In 2016, BR Health (which merged into Afya Brazil on March 29, 2019) acquired a 30% interest in the share capital of Afya Brazil from certain members of the Esteves Family
(which has since increased to 41.5% following share capital increases and the subscription of new shares by BR Health). The acquisition was secured by the following guarantees
by certain members of the Esteves Family (and/or companies controlled by them at the time) in favor of BR Health with respect to certain indemnification obligations of certain
members of the Esteves Family members: (i) a fiduciary assignment of 70% of certain educational services credit rights of IESVAP up to August 2022, (ii) a pledge of shares
pursuant to which Nicolau Carvalho Esteves pledged 308,998 common shares owned by him in Afya Brazil, and Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves pledged 92,859 common
shares owned by her in Afya Brazil, valid up to April 2024 and which can be partially released on certain dates subject to certain conditions being met, and (iii) mortgages
(hipotecas) over land located in Araguaína and Porto Nacional in the State of Tocantins. Certain of the guarantees were amended in 2018 to cover certain Esteves Family
indemnification obligations in connection with the IPTAN and IESVAP transactions.
On March 28, 2019, prior to the merger of BR Health into Afya Brazil, BR Health assigned the guarantees described above to Crescera, and Crescera and certain members of the
Esteves Family renegotiated the guarantees, which are composed of: (i) a pledge of shares pursuant to which Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves pledged 2,497,275 shares
owned by her in Univaço Patrimonial Ltda., (ii) mortgages (hipotecas) over land located in Araguaína and Porto Nacional in the State of Tocantins, and (iii) a fiduciary assignment
of land located in Parnaíba, in the State of Piauí, and in Palmas, in the State of Tocantins.
Our Pre-IPO Corporate Reorganization
Prior to the consummation of our initial public offering, certain members of the Esteves Family, Crescera, other members of the Esteves Family and the other shareholders of
Afya Brazil, or the Afya Brazil Minority Shareholder Group, contributed all of their shares in Afya Brazil to us. In return for this contribution, we issued 58,485,140 new Class B
common shares to Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves and Crescera and 17,370,248 new Class A common shares to the other members of the Esteves
Family and the Afya Brazil Minority Shareholder Group, in each case in a one-to-28 exchange for the shares of Afya Brazil contributed to us.
On March 29, 2019, BR Health (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crescera that controlled Guardaya), and Guardaya (which owns 100% of Medcel and CBB Web) merged into
Afya Brazil, resulting in the transfer to Afya Brazil of 100% of Medcel and CBB Web and 15% of UEPC, a medical school located in the Federal District.
Additionally, on June 18, 2019, Afya Brazil acquired an additional 15% interest in UEPC through a contribution by Crescera of its additional 15% interest in UEPC into Afya
Brazil’s share capital. The purchase price was R$24.5 million. This contribution was conducted as part of our corporate reorganization and pursuant to the terms and conditions of
(i) a purchase agreement between BR Health and UEPC’s controlling shareholders, which was assigned by BR Health to Crescera on March 25, 2019, and which required Crescera
to acquire the 15% interest in UEPC directly from UEPC’s controlling shareholders, and (ii) an investment agreement dated March 29, 2019, among Crescera, certain members of the
Esteves Family, certain minority shareholders and Afya Brazil, pursuant to which Crescera agreed to subsequently contribute its additional 15% interest in UEPC into Afya Brazil’s
share capital in exchange for a certain number of shares in Afya Brazil, to be calculated at the time of the contribution in accordance with the calculation formula set forth in the
investment agreement.
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Roll-up transactions
On June 14, 2019, we concluded the roll-up of the minority shareholders of FASA to Afya Brazil. On June 16, 2019, we concluded the roll-up of the minority shareholders of
IESP to Afya Brazil. On June 17, 2019, we concluded the roll-up of the minority shareholders of UNIVAÇO to Afya Brazil. See "Item 4. Information of the Company—C.
Organizational Structure—” for our current corporate structure.
Pre-IPO and Post-IPO Acquisitions
Please see "—Business Overview—Our Recent Acquisitions”
Initial Public Offering and Equity Follow-on Offering
In July 2019, we completed our initial public offering, in which we sold an aggregate of 15,805,841 of our Class A common shares at a public offering price of US$19.00 per
common share. We received approximately US$242.7 million of net proceeds from our initial public offering (i.e., after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering
expenses). Our shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on July 19, 2019, under the symbol "AFYA.”
In February 2020, we completed an equity follow-on offering, in which we sold an aggregate of 3,260,480 of our Class A common shares at a public offering price of US$27.50
per common share. We received approximately US$86.6 million of net proceeds from our follow-on offering (i.e., after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering
expenses).
SoftBank Investment
On April 26, 2021, we announced that the SoftBank Latin America Fund, or SoftBank, agreed to purchase R$822 million, equivalent to US$150 million, of Afya’s Series A
perpetual convertible preferred shares, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Crescera Educacional II Fundo de Investimento em Participações Multiestratégia and
the Esteves Family agreed to sell 2,270,208 Class A common shares to SoftBank. In connection with such sale, at the time, Paulo Passoni from SoftBank was appointed as a board
member of Afya, being replaced by Maria Tereza Azevedo in 2022.
The key terms of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, as set forth under the relevant certificate of designations, are: (i) 6.5% per annum cumulative dividend
payable quarterly and in Brazilian reais (payable in U.S. dollars in Brazilian reais equivalent); (ii) SoftBank shall have the right at any time, to convert its Series A perpetual
convertible preferred shares into 5,917,888 common shares, at an initial conversion price established at US$25.35; (iii) SoftBank shall have the right to redeem any time after the 5th
year anniversary at 105% premium; and (iv) Afya will have the right to force conversion after the 3rd year anniversary if forced conversion trigger conditions are satisfied. For
further information, see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness—Series A Perpetual Convertible Shares” and
note 13.2.1(d) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
As of December 31, 2022, SoftBank and its affiliates would beneficially own approximately 6.6% of the total shares of the Company (on an as-converted basis for the Series A
perpetual convertible preferred shares).
Acquisition of Crescera Shares by Bertelsmann
On June 7, 2021, we announced that an affiliate of Bertelsmann acquired the entirety of the 23,074,134 Class B Afya’s common shares held by Crescera Educacional II Fundo
de Investimento em Participações Multiestrategia, or "Crescera Educacional,” pursuant to a provision in Afya’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association
then in effect and the shareholders agreement between the Esteves Family and Crescera Educacional, which granted Bertelsmann the right to acquire Crescera Educacional’s Class
B common shares and become a party to the shareholders’ agreement.
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Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the entertainment group RTL Group, the trade book
publisher Penguin Random House, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann
Investments, an international network of funds. Since Afya’s inception, Bertelsmann has indirectly held a stake in Afya through its investment in Crescera Educacional. In
addition, Bertelsmann had Daulins Emilio, the Managing Director at Bertelsmann Brazil Investments (BBI) and Head of the Bertelsmann Corporate Center in Brazil, as a member of
Afya’s board of directors since 2019. In connection with such transaction, Bertelsmann appointed Kay Krafft and Shobhna Mohn as members of Afya’s board of directors.
Acquisition of our Corporate Control by Bertelsmann
On May 4, 2022, we announced the closing of the transaction whereby Bertelsmann acquired 6,000,000 of our Class B common shares from the Esteves Family, at a purchase
price of US$26.90 per share. As a result of the closing of the transaction, Bertelsmann came to beneficially own approximately a 57.5% voting interest in Afya. We further
announced that we entered into a new CEO executive employment agreement with Virgilio Gibbon, extending its period through May 2027. The extension was made in connection
with the increase of Bertelsmann’s stake in Afya to continue to execute the expansion in the medical education business and the deployment of the Afya Digital Health strategy.
B. Business Overview
We are the leading medical education group in Brazil based on number of private medical school seats, according to a MEC report as of December 31, 2022, delivering an end-
to-end physician-centric ecosystem that serves and empowers students to be lifelong medical learners from the moment they join us as medical students through their medical
residency preparation, graduation program, medical post-graduate specialization programs and continuing medical education activities, or CME, including through digital health
services.
Our innovative methodological approach combines integrated content, interactive learning, and an adaptive experience for lifelong medical learners. Through our educational
content and technology-enabled activities, we focus on effective, personalized learning that mirrors one-on-one tutoring.
We have the largest medical education footprint in Brazil. Our undergraduate and graduate campuses are spread across 13 Brazilian states, and our digital medical platform is
available across Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, our network of 45 undergraduate and graduate medical school campuses consisted of 32 undergrad operating units (units that
have been approved by MEC and that have commenced operations) and six approved units (units that have been approved by MEC but that have not yet commenced operations),
compared to 30 and 25 operating units as of December 31, 2021 and as of December 31, 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, our network of 2,823 medical school seats
consisted of 2,773 operating seats (seats that have been approved by MEC and that have commenced operations) and 50 approved seats (seats that have been approved by MEC
but that have not yet commenced operations), compared to 2,481 and 1,893 operating seats as of December 31, 2021 and as of December 31, 2020, respectively. We plan to expand
our network by opening, subject to the verification by the MEC of the satisfactory implementation by Afya Brazil of all regulatory requirements, the seven approved medical school
campuses we were awarded in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program (the Brazilian federal government initiative to reduce shortages of doctors in the most underserved
and vulnerable regions of Brazil) by December 31, 2022, taking our total to 30 operating medical school campuses in 13 Brazilian states and approximately 2,773 available medical
school seats per year.
Following our acquisition of Medcel in the first quarter of 2019 and IPEMED in the second quarter of 2019, we also offer residency preparatory courses and medical
postgraduate specialization programs, delivering printed and digital content, an online medical education platform and practical medical training.
The acquisition of PEBMED, MedPhone, iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp, RX PRO, Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers and Glic marked our evolution in
the digital health services sector, complementing our end-to-end offering to healthcare professionals.
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Through PEBMED, we acquired three different products: (i) Whitebook, a mobile and web application that assists doctors and medical professionals in clinical daily decision-
making; (ii) Nursebook, a mobile application that assists nurses in clinical decision-making; (iii) Portal PEBMED, a website that offers free content, including opinions, papers and
updates in connection with medical news and scientific publications. PEBMED has more than 200,000 monthly active users on the Whitebook platform and approximately 1.3
million monthly active users to Portal PEBMED. The acquisition expanded our products and services offerings and offers significant cross-sell and upsell opportunities.
iClinic is a SaaS model physician focused technology company and one of the leading medical practice management software in Brazil. They seek to empower doctors to be
more independent and have more control over their careers by digitalizing their daily routine, so they can increase their productivity and deliver better healthcare services. Their
portfolio includes: (i) Electronic Medical Record: the first electronic medical record as a SaaS model in Brazil focused on the physician experience; (ii) Clinical Management System:
with this software doctors can schedule patients online, organize their financial records, use marketing tools to promote their clinics and others; (iii) Telemedicine: a platform to
provide online consultations fully integrated with doctor’s schedule and records; and (iv) Physicians Marketplace: a website that connects doctors and patients to schedule
consultations. As of December 31, 2022, the software had almost 23,000 users. The platform is currently used for almost 21 million medical consultations per year, of which around
115,000 were through telemedicine and prescribed more than 6,000,000 electronic medical prescriptions.
Medicinae is a healthcare technology company specializing in healthcare payments and financial services. It offers a financial platform that allows healthcare professionals to
manage receivables in an efficient and scalable way using FIDC (receivables investment fund). We believe Medicinae relieves a number of challenges in the healthcare payments
industry, by reducing long payment cycles for professionals and consolidating financial information, improving the consumer financial experience.
Medical Harbour offers educational health and medical imaging solutions through an interactive platform for anatomical study, 3D virtual dissection and analysis of medical
images, which allow the exploration, and knowledge of human anatomy with digital resources: (i) educational health solutions: Athena Hub specialized in anatomy was created to
support dynamic teaching and allow physicians, teachers and students to interact and manipulate a real human body on a digital platform. Considering the high prices, restriction
policies and difficulty on maintaining a human body for anatomy classes, Athena Hub allows students to interact with a digital human body instead of the aged and degenerate
bodies for educational purposes. The solution count with virtual body, anatomy modules, and real exam analysis with photorealistic rendering. And (ii) medical imaging solutions:
Athena DICOM and MH Cloud specialized in medical imaging with a range of products that simplifies radiology and teleradiology. Allow physicians to visualize, manipulate, share
and store medical imaging with the certification of ANVISA (Brazilian Health Agency).
Cliquefarma is a healthtech company operating a free-to-use website that tracks prescription drugs, cosmetics and personal hygiene product prices in Brazil. Users of
Cliquefarma can search for medications or healthcare products and compare prices from over 5,600 pharmacies in Brazil. The traffic generated is monetized through a cost-per-click
model, where drugstores pay for each click on their ads, and a cost-per-acquisition model, where drugstores pay for each concluded sale. In 2022, Cliquefarma generated traffic of
21.2 million visitors.
Shosp is a clinical management software that offers all functionalities needed for clinics all over Brazil to manage their financials, patients’ appointments, medical records,
marketing, and others. The acquisition of Shosp reinforces the digital prescription digital pillar and creates synergies with iClinic and Medicinae solutions.
RX PRO is a Digital Platform that connects physicians with the pharmaceutical industry, providing specialized and personalized marketing for those companies, in a more
convenient way for physicians. RX PRO has already delivered free samples to more than 58,000 physicians with an innovative digital experience, with a Net Promoter Score, or NPS,
of 82.4 and as of today has more than 19 pharmaceutical companies using its platform. RX PRO is monetized by providing a B2B subscription service to the pharmaceutical
industry.
Além da Medicina is an online medical content platform for physicians and medical students that provides educational tools and technical medical content to assist them
throughout their careers. Its robust content includes mentoring for residency, soft skills, finance, accounting, and investment basics for physicians. Além da Medicina had more
than 9,000 subscribers as of December 31, 2022, and more than 120,000 followers on Instagram.
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Cardiopapers is the main medical content and education platform in the Cardiology field, offering courses and books developed by physicians and for physicians, covering all
phases of the medical career, aligned with Afya’s overall business strategy. Cardiopapers had 8,046 students in 2022 and almost 260,000 followers on Instagram. The platform
includes more than ten courses, such as a cardiology specialist degree preparatory course, cardiological emergencies course, preoperative course, dyslipidemia course,
electrocardiogram (EKG) course and diabetes course, exploring the cardiologic medical field and also expanding to other medical areas.
Glic is a free diabetes care and management app solution for physicians and patients that uses technology to improve diabetes education and daily routine practices,
connecting users, devices and healthcare providers.
In addition to health sciences courses, which comprise medicine, dentistry, nursing, radiology, psychology, pharmacy, physical education, physiotherapy, nutrition and
biomedicine, we also offer degree programs and courses in other subjects and disciplines across several of our campuses, including undergraduate and postgraduate courses in
business administration, accounting, law, civil engineering, industrial engineering and pedagogy. These non-health courses are not part of our core business, although the number
of non-health sciences courses we offer has increased as a consequence of our strategic acquisitions in 2020, 2019 and 2018 of multi-disciplinary schools with strong health
sciences programs, which are our principal focus. Although non-health courses are not part of our growth strategy, we expect to continue to offer them to the extent they generate
local demand. Following our acquisition of Medcel in the first quarter of 2019 and IPEMED in the second quarter of 2019, we also offer residency preparatory courses and medical
post-graduate specialization programs, delivering printed and digital content, an online medical education platform and practical medical training.
As of December 31, 2022, we had 58,200 enrolled students, compared to 61,118 enrolled students as of December 31, 2021, representing a decrease of 4.8% for 2022, and 36,206
enrolled students as of December 31, 2020, representing an increase of 68.8% for 2021, primarily as a result of our acquisitions in the year ended December 31, 2021. See "Item 4.
Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our Recent Acquisitions.”
Our business model is characterized by high revenue visibility and operating leverage. Approximately 90% of our historical revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022,
2021 and 2020 was composed of the monthly tuition fees we charge students enrolled in our undergraduate and graduate courses.
Our ability to execute our business model and strategy, primarily through our (i) acquisitions (which represented approximately 48% of our total growth in terms of revenue in
2022, 80.5% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2021 and 54.0% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2020) and (ii) organic growth (which represented approximately 52%
of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2022, 19.5% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2021, and 46.0% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2020), has led to growth,
profitability and cash generation:
·
Our revenue totaled R$2,329.1 million, R$1,719.4 million and R$1,201.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, representing a compound
annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 38.95% since 2020;
·
Medical school’s tuition fees represented 77.1%, 75.9% and 73.7% of our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The average monthly ticket for medical school tuition fees was R$9,400 for the year ended December 31, 2022, which represented an increase of 9.1% from R$8,615 for year
ended December 31, 2021, which, in turn, represented an increase of 6.8% from R$8,065 for year ended December 31, 2020;
·
Residency preparatory course, continuing medical education, medical post graduate specialization programs offerings and digital services totaled R$298.8 million, R$224.9
million and R$200.3 million in revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively;
·
We generated net income of R$392.6 million, R$242.3 million and R$308.0 million in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, representing a CAGR
of 12.9% since 2020;
·
Our Adjusted EBITDA totaled R$962.1 million, R$754.9 million and R$563.1 million in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, representing a
CAGR of 30.7% since 2020;
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·
Our Operating Cash Conversion Ratio was 94.4%, 100.8% and 75.7% for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Quality is a cornerstone of our value proposition. As of December 31, 2022, our average General Course Index score, which is measured and published by MEC, and is based
on certain institutional planning and development, academic, and management criteria, was 3.32 on a scale of 1 to 5, compared to the Brazilian average of 3.13.
In 2018, we were also awarded seven new undergraduate campuses in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program, the largest number awarded to any education group, with
a total of 350 new medical school seats.
In 2022, the successful opening of four Mais Médicos campuses—Abaetetuba, Bragança, Itacoatiara, and Manacapuru—added 200 new medical seats to our portfolio. As of
the date of this annual report, six of these campuses are already in operation. The continued operation of certain of these campuses was subject to the verification by MEC of the
satisfactory implementation by Afya Brazil of all regulatory requirements. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Our Geographic Presence.”
Our Recent Acquisitions
The entry point to a medical career begins in undergraduate institutions, so part of our mission is to consolidate this market. Accordingly, expanding our operations through
acquisitions has been a key component of our growth strategy. We have been able to apply our operating business model to our acquisitions, allowing us to add quality, value
and increase profitability.
In addition, we have equipped ourselves through key initiatives for strategic and relevant acquisitions to our portfolio, including: the creation of a Shared Services Center
dedicated to serving our campuses and running our integration processes, the centralization of content creation and the creation of a dedicated sales team for each market we
operate in.
Our recent acquisitions, which were all made through Afya Brazil, include:
UniRedentor
On January 31, 2020, we acquired 100% of UniRedentor. UniRedentor is a post-secondary education institution with governmental authorization to offer on-campus,
undergraduate courses in medicine in the State of Rio de Janeiro. UniRedentor also offers other health-related undergraduate degrees and graduate programs in medicine and
health, as well as other courses.
The aggregate purchase price of R$214.6 million was adjusted by R$4.5 million and was comprised by: (i) R$114.6 million paid in cash on the acquisition date; and (ii) R$100
million payable in five equal installments from January 2021 to July 2024, adjusted by the CDI rate. The purchase consideration adjustment of R$4.5 million was deducted from the
first installment paid in January 2021.
The acquisition contributed 112 medical school seats to us, with a potential 44 additional medical school seats subject to approval by MEC.
UniSL
On May 5, 2020, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of UniSL. UniSL is a post-secondary education institution with governmental authorization to offer on-campus,
undergraduate courses in medicine in the State of Rondônia. The aggregate purchase consideration of R$201.5 million was adjusted by R$7.8 million, of which: (i) 70% paid in cash
on the transaction closing date; and (ii) 30% payable in cash in three equal installments through 2023, adjusted by the CDI rate. The purchase consideration adjustment of R$7.8
million was deducted from the first installment due in May 2021. The acquisition contributed 182 medical school seats to us.
In connection with the acquisition there are 72 additional seats still pending approval that, if approved by MEC, will result in a potential additional payment by us of up to
R$57.6 million, as adjusted by the CDI rate. On March 18, 2022, Afya announced that MEC authorized the increase of 28 seats of Centro Universitário São Lucas, in Ji-Parana
located in the state of Rondônia, resulting in a consideration to be transferred of R$22.4 million, as adjusted by the CDI rate from the closing until the payment date, of which: (i)
50% was paid in April 2022, and (ii) 50% is payable in cash in two equal installments through 2024.
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PEBMED
On July 20, 2020, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of PEBMED. PEBMED offers content and clinical tools for healthcare professionals, including mobile and web
apps. The original purchase price of R$132.9 million was adjusted by R$0.03 million and was comprised by: (i) R$115.3 million paid in cash on the acquisition date; and (ii) R$17.5
million was paid with Afya Brazil’s shares which were subsequently contributed to us in exchange for the issuance of 141,976 of our shares.
This acquisition will contribute to the development and expansion of our online services, increasing our monthly active users and bringing active physicians to our digital
platform.
FESAR
On November 3, 2020, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of FESAR. FESAR is a post-secondary education institution with government authorization to offer on-
campus, undergraduate courses in medicine in the State of Pará.
The aggregate purchase price was R$260.8 million, including the CDI rate adjustment from the signing date and the real state of the operation, estimated at R$17.3 million, of
which 100% was paid in cash on the closing of the operation. The purchase consideration was adjusted by R$1.5 million and was paid on February 25, 2021. This acquisition
contributed 120 medical school seats to us.
MedPhone
On November 4, 2020, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of MedPhone. The net purchase price was R$6.4 million, and was paid in cash on the acquisition date.
MedPhone is a clinical decision and leaflet consultation app in Brazil, that helps physicians, medical students and other healthcare professionals to make faster and more accurate
decisions on a daily basis.
On September 20, 2022, we completed the merger of MedPhone with and into Afya Brazil, in order to simplify our corporate structure.
FCMPB
On November 9, 2020, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of FCMPB. FCMPB is a post-secondary education institution with government authorization to offer on-
campus, undergraduate courses in the State of Paraíba.
The total net purchase price of R$379.9 million was adjusted to R$378.8 million and comprised (i) R$189.9 million paid in cash on the transaction closing date, and (ii) R$188.9
million payable in cash in four equal installments through 2024, adjusted by the CDI rate. The acquisition contributed 157 medical school seats to us.
iClinic
On January 21, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of iClinic. iClinic is a SaaS model physician focused technology company and the leading practice
management software in Brazil. This software empowers doctors to be more independent and have more control over the non-medicine aspect of their practices by digitalizing their
daily routine, so they can increase their productivity and deliver better healthcare. The aggregate purchase price of R$191.1 million is comprised of: (i) R$119.6 million, or 62.6%,
was paid in cash; and (ii) R$71.5 million, or 37.4%, was settled with Afya’s shares on the transaction closing date.
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Medicinae
On March 25, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of Medicinae, a leading Brazilian healthcare technology company that specializes in healthcare payments and
financial services. The aggregate purchase price of R$9.2 million is comprised of: (i) R$5.6 million of which 100% was paid in cash on the transaction closing date; and (ii) an earn-
out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$4.4 million is payable in connection with product development goals for 2021 and revenue achievements for 2022. The contingent
consideration of R$3.6 million was based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date. There was no contingent
consideration balance as of December 31, 2022.
Medical Harbour
On April 8, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of Medical Harbour, which offers educational health and medical imaging solutions through an interactive platform for
anatomical study, 3D virtual dissection and analysis of medical images, which allow the exploration, and knowledge of human anatomy with digital resources. The aggregate
purchase price of R$11.3 million is comprised of: (i) R$5.0 million of which 100% was paid in cash on the transaction closing date; and (ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”)
of up to R$9.0 million is payable in connection with product development goals for 2021 and 2022 and revenue achievements for 2023. The contingent consideration of R$6.3 million
was based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date. As of December 31, 2022, there was a contingent consideration of
R$4.1 million.
Cliquefarma
On April 16, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of Cliquefarma, a healthtech company operating a free-to-use website that tracks prescription drugs, cosmetics
and personal hygiene product prices in Brazil. The aggregate purchase price of R$22.1 million is comprised of: (i) R$16.2 million paid in cash; (ii) R$3.0 million settled with Afya’s
shares on the transaction closing date; and (iii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of R$3.0 million is payable in relation to product development. The contingent
consideration of R$2.9 million was based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date.
Shosp
On May 13, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of Shosp, a clinical management software that offers all functionalities needed for clinics all over Brazil to manage
their financials, patients appointments, medical records, marketing, and others. Afya’s intention is to reinforce the Digital Services operating segment. The aggregate purchase
price of R$7.9 million is comprised of: (i) R$5.9 million paid in cash; (ii) R$454 thousand in consideration to be transferred; and (iii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up to
R$1.8 million payable in relation to product development. The contingent consideration of R$1.6 million was based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and
circumstances at the acquisition date. As of December 31, 2022, there was a contingent consideration of R$2.2 million.
UNIFIPMoc
On June 1, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of UNIFIPMoc. The aggregate purchase price was R$328.3 million paid in cash at date of acquisition. As of
December 31, 2022, there were 40 additional seats still pending approval, which, if approved by MEC, would result in a potential additional payment of up to R$50.0 million.
UNIFIPMoc is a post-secondary education institution with governmental authorization to offer on-campus, undergraduate degree programs in medicine and healthcare, as well as
in other courses, in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia.
Unigranrio
On August 4, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of Unigranrio. The original aggregate purchase price was R$626.1 million, which was later adjusted to R$619.0
million as result of net debt adjustments. R$375.7 million, or 60% of the purchase price, was paid in cash on the closing date, and the remaining R$243.3 million, or 40%, will be paid
in four equal annual installments, adjusted by the CDI rate. There are 82 additional seats still pending approval which, if approved by MEC, will result in a potential additional
payment of up to R$90.2 million. Unigranrio is a post-secondary education institution with government authorization to offer on-campus, undergraduate medical and health-related
courses in the state of Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.
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Following our acquisition of the Unigranrio entities, on September 21, 2022, we liquidated and dissolved Sociedade Educacional de Palhoça S/S Ltda., and on January 16, 2023
we completed the merger of Instituto de Ensino Superior de Palhoça S/S with and into Companhia Nilza Cordeiro Herdy de Eduação e Cultura, in order to simplify our corporate
structure.
RX PRO
On October 1, 2021, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of RX PRO, a solution that connects physicians with the pharmaceutical industry, providing specialized and
personalized marketing for those companies, in a more convenient way for physicians. RX PRO does this by delivering free samples to a community of pre-selected physicians and
offering medical updates regarding pharmaceutical products and treatments in a fast and efficient way for doctors. RX PRO incorporates the digital prescription pillar and further
strengthens Afya’s digital ecosystem thesis. The aggregate purchase price paid to sellers was R$45.6 million, of which R$30.3 million was paid in cash and R$5.1 million paid in
Afya stock. An earn-out of up to R$21 million can be paid related to gross revenue achievements for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The contingent consideration of R$10.2 million was based
on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date. As of December 31, 2022, there was a contingent consideration of R$1.8
million.
Garanhuns
On November 5, 2021, the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of the MEC authorized the operation of a medical school in Garanhuns in the State of Pernambuco. This
authorization is in connection with a previous request made by ITPAC, a subsidiary of Afya Brazil, to expand their operation and open a branch in the city of Garanhuns, before the
consolidation of Afya. As a result, we acquired 100% of Garanhuns. The purchase price is to be paid as follows: (i) R$54.0 million in cash on the closing date of the transaction;
and (ii) R$54.0 million in two equal installments, adjusted by the CDI rate, and due annually at the end of the first and the second anniversary of the closing date of the transaction.
Além da Medicina
On March 4, 2022, we acquired 100% of the total share capital of Além da Medicina. This business combination incorporates new capabilities to the content & technology for
the medical education pillar and further strengthens Afya’s digital ecosystem. The aggregate purchase price of R$26.8 million is comprised of: (i) R$14.9 million paid in cash on the
transaction closing date; (ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$ 19.2 million is payable in connection with revenue target achievements for 2023 and 2024; and (iii)
a price adjustment related to net debt of R$0.8 million in favor of selling shareholders. The contingent consideration of R$11.1 million was based on the present value of the
obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date. As of December 31, 2022, there was a contingent consideration of R$12.0 million.
Cardiopapers
On April 4, 2022, we announced the closing of the acquisition of 100% of the total share capital of Cardiopapers. The aggregate purchase price of R$42 million is comprised of:
(i) R$34.9 million paid in cash on the transaction closing date; (ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$15 million is payable in connection with revenue target
achievements for 2023 and 2024 and other goals; and (iii) price adjustment related to net debt of R$0.3 million in favor of Afya Brazil. The contingent consideration of R$7.4 million
was based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date. As of December 31, 2022, there was a contingent consideration of
R$8.0 million.
Glic
On May 23, 2022, we acquired 100% of the share capital of Glic. Glic is a free diabetes care and management app solution for physicians and patients that uses technology to
improve diabetes education and daily routine practices, connecting users, devices and healthcare providers. The aggregate purchase price of R$30.6 million comprised of: (i) R$21.6
million paid in cash on the transaction closing date; and (ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$12.0 million is payable in connection with revenue target
achievements for 2023 and 2024 and product development goals. The contingent consideration of R$9.0 million was based on the present value of the obligation considering the
facts and circumstances at the acquisition date. As of December 31, 2022, there was a contingent consideration of R$9.5 million.
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DelRey
On January 2, 2023, we announced the closing of the acquisition of 100% of the total share capital of DelRey, which acquisition encompasses the operations of Centro
Universitário Tiradentes Alagoas ("UNIT Alagoas”) and Faculdade Tiradentes Jaboatão dos Guararapes ("FITS Jaboatão dos Guararapes”). The transaction does not include the
"UNIT” and "FITS” brands, which will be licensed to Afya during the first year of operation. The aggregate purchase price was R$825.0 million, prior to deducting DelRey’s net
debt, to be paid as follows: (i) R$575.0 million in cash on the transaction’s closing date; and (ii) R$250.0 million in three annual installments, respectively, of R$150.0 million, R$50.0
million and R$50.0 million, as adjusted by the SELIC rate. There is a contingent payment related to 84 additional seats subject to approval. If the Ministry of Education approves
those seats until December 31, 2024, it will result in a potential additional payment of R$1.25 million per seat in UNIT Alagoas, as adjusted by the IPCA rate between the closing
date and the date of its effective payment.
Our Competitive Strengths
Continuous focus on disrupting traditional medical education
·
We have an in-depth understanding of medical education and the related issues faced by students in Brazil. As the largest medical education group in Brazil on a per-seat
basis, according to MEC, we are able to identify trends and adapt our services accordingly;
·
We have developed a methodological approach to learning that incorporates individualization and technology in both digital and physical format;
·
We currently produce content that is centralized, continuously updated and available to all our institutions and students;
·
We have the largest operating infrastructure in medical education in Brazil on a per-seat basis, according to MEC, with more than 662 partner teaching hospitals and
clinics and almost 260,710 physicians and specialists in our ecosystem;
·
We believe we have developed the first instructional medical web series created globally, and we have completed the first two seasons and have already begun working
on the third season;
·
We believe we are the first education group in Brazil to offer a fully digital and customized service for medical residency exam preparation;
·
We believe we are the first player to offer supplemental medical education content to third-party institutions through a business-to-business model; and
·
We started offering content and clinical tools for healthcare professionals, including mobile and web apps.
High-quality standards
Quality is a cornerstone of our value proposition. Our operating infrastructure and innovative methodological approach has achieved high levels of satisfaction across our
medical schools. Through our digital platforms, we monitor our students’ learning experience using several criteria and variables. According to Educainsights, our NPS, a widely
known survey methodology that measures the willingness of customers to recommend a company’s products and services, was 41 for medical students that graduated more than
five years ago, 27 for medical students that graduated more than two years ago and less than five years ago, and 38 for medical students that graduated less than two years ago.
This gradual improvement in our NPS score shows our continuing commitment to high-quality education and the medical careers of our students. Additionally, as of December 31,
2022, our average General Course Index, which is measured and published by MEC, and is based on certain institutional planning and development, academic and management
criteria, was 3.32 on a scale of 1 to 5, compared to the Brazilian average of 3.13. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Regulatory Overview—Regulatory
Processes of Post-secondary Education Institutions—Accreditation of Post-secondary Education Institutions and Authorization and Recognition of Programs” for further
information on the General Course Index.
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In addition, through our online medical education platform that offers distance learning residency preparatory courses, we are able to monitor our students’ learning
experience using several criteria and variables, including the educational materials they access and use, frequently asked questions, their study hours and schedule, and their
attendance record. Furthermore, as a result of the quality of the content and methodology and the differentiated services offered by Medcel, third-party medical schools
proactively contact it seeking to adopt Medcel’s medical education content to improve their medical students’ learning experience and academic scores. As of December 31, 2022,
16 third-party schools had adopted Medcel’s medical education content compared to approximately six as of December 31, 2020.
The nature of our business model
Attractive financial model: We have a strong combination of significantly low customer acquisition costs, calculated as the sum of sales and marketing and personnel
expenses divided by student additions, which were approximately R$1,882, R$2,016 and R$2,488 per student as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, high occupancy
rates of approximately 100% of medical seats in our medical schools as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and, 2020, and strong operating cash conversion of 94.4%, 100.8% and 75.7% as
of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, our Life Time Value (LTV) was R$425,658, calculated as the sum of R$70,943 gross income per student
divided by 17% (to account for one-sixth of the student base graduating every year). As of December 31, 2021, our Life Time Value (LTV) was R$353,404, calculated as the sum of
R$58,901 gross income per student divided by 16.7% (to account for one-sixth of the student base graduating every year). As of December 31, 2020, our Life Time Value (LTV) was
R$286,227, calculated as the sum of R$47,704 gross income per student divided by 16.7% (to account for one-sixth of the student base graduating every year).
Contracted growth: We have contracted growth visibility into medical schools that are in the initial six years of operations as a result of the six-year maturation cycle of our
medical school seats. This cycle begins when a medical school becomes operational, with a first year medical school class that progresses through the required six years as the
next classes begin behind it, and ends when the medical school has six school years of medical students and has therefore reached capacity at maturation (i.e., the maximum
number of approved seats). Since the maximum number of medical seats per medical school is set by regulation, the only way to grow our medical school seats, and thus our
numbers of enrollments, is through acquisitions or starting new medical schools. As of December 31, 2022, we had 2,823 approved medical school seats out of an expected total
capacity of 22,744 medical school enrollments by 2028, which gives us visibility as to the growth potential of our revenues over the period. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects—Medical School Regulatory Capacity and Capacity at Maturation.”
End-to-end ecosystem: Successfully integrating the businesses we invest in or acquire, allows us to offer an end-to-end physician-centric ecosystem. The point of entry of
one business unit is the point of exit from another, which increases cross-selling and upselling opportunities.
Difficult to replicate: We believe the combination of regulatory barriers, demand and supply imbalance and our end-to-end physician-centric ecosystem are difficult to
replicate and that it would take a significant amount of time for competitors to reach the scale of our operation.
Self-reinforcing network effects of our education cycle: As we aim to be the trusted content and knowledge partner for lifelong medical learners in Brazil, we have created and
have been nurturing an education cycle that entails differentiation, talented stakeholders and recognition. Our continuous focus on implementing all stages of our cycle has
allowed us to continuously expand our footprint.
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Extensive M&A track record
We have extensive capabilities in, and a strong track record of, identifying, negotiating and successfully integrating acquisitions. We have developed an integration model,
operated by a dedicated team responsible for analyzing, mapping and integrating the systems of our acquired businesses, that we believe enables us to fully integrate the
businesses we acquire in an efficient manner and within 12 months of their acquisition.
Our integration model is composed of four stages:
·
Stage 1 (Preliminary Analysis): Preliminary analysis of the available infrastructure, organizational structure and teaching model of the acquired business to identify
potential integration issues.
·
Stage 2 (Detailed Mapping): Detailed migration diagnosis and mapping of the systems, processes and teaching model of the acquired business to be integrated into our
centralized shared-services center and academic model.
·
Stage 3 (Integration/Migration): Centralization and migration of the systems and processes into our shared services center and standardization of the teaching model of
the acquired business.
·
Stage 4 (Ongoing Support): Post migration/integration remote and on-site support and monitoring to stabilize the integrated operations of the acquired business.
Our consolidated operating history and our recent acquisitions entail a number of challenges, such as effectively integrating the operations of any acquired companies with
our existing business and managing a growing number of campuses. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We
may not be able to identify and acquire new medical higher education institutions or meet our strategic and financial goals in connection with any business acquisition we seek,
and difficulties in effectively integrating and managing a growing number of campuses may adversely affect our strategic objectives” and "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Our operating history as a consolidated company, our recent acquisitions and the comparability of our results may
make it difficult for investors to evaluate our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.”
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Purpose driven culture
Medical education requires a core human value: compassion. As we endeavor to revolutionize medical education in Brazil, we believe that by training and educating better
physicians we are helping people and their communities across Brazil. This mission has united families and entrepreneurs, executives and sponsors with over 20 years of know-
how and expertise in the education sector. Our internal satisfaction survey conducted in 2022 showed employee satisfaction levels of 84 out of a possible 100, based on several
criteria, such as trust in, and a commitment to, our values, leadership satisfaction, work satisfaction, learning and development, and active participation in our activities, reinforcing
our strong commitment to our mission and purpose.
Our Growth Strategies
We aim to continue to grow organically and through acquisitions and to generate greater shareholder value by implementing the following strategic initiatives:
Maturation of current number of authorized medical school seats
We benefit from contracted growth visibility in our medical schools that are in the initial six years of operations, which we derive from two main sources: (1) the six-year
maturation cycle of our medical school seats, which begins when a medical school becomes operational, with a first year medical school class which progresses through the
required six years as the next classes begin behind it, and which ends when the medical school has six school years of medical students and has therefore reached capacity at
maturation (i.e., the maximum number of approved seats), and (2) new enrollments from our seven awarded campuses in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program.
Since the maximum number of medical seats per medical school is set by applicable regulations, the only way to grow our medical school seats, and thus our number of
enrollments, is through acquisitions or starting new medical schools. Assuming full compliance with applicable regulations and that our seven new "Mais Médicos” campuses
mature as expected with 50 medical seats for each campus, we estimate reaching a total medical student base of 22,744 students by 2028. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects—Medical School Regulatory Capacity and Capacity at Maturation” and "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business
and Industry—The post-secondary education sector is highly regulated, and our failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations could significantly impact our
business.”
Open new campuses in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program
In 2018, we were also awarded seven new undergraduate campuses in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program, the largest number awarded to any education group, with
a total of 350 new medical school seats. The operation of such campuses is subject to the verification by MEC of the satisfactory implementation by Afya Brazil of all regulatory
requirements. As of the date of this annual report, MEC had inspected six of the campuses, and the final verification was published in: (i) October 2020 for ITPAC Santa Inês;
(ii) December 2020 for ITPAC Cruzeiro do Sul; (iii) February 2022 for ITPAC Abaetetuba; (iv) February 2022 for ITPAC Itacoatiara; (v) March 2022 for ITPAC Bragança; and (vi)
March 2022 for ITPAC Manacapuru.
Expand our medical residency preparation enrollments base
We expect that competition for medical residencies will increase as the number of graduating physicians grows and the number of available residency seats remains static. We
plan to continue to grow our medical residency exam preparation student enrollments, leveraging the academic outcome, scalability and learning experience of our digital platform.
Expand our graduate programs enrollments base
Due to the shortage of medical residency seats and the growing demand for medical graduate courses, we believe we will be able to expand our current offering in this
segment.
We intend to continue developing our business-to-business strategy by increasing the number of partners and student enrollments through increased marketing and sales
effort.
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Cross-sell across our existing medical student base
Because our solutions target the lifelong education journey of medical students, we have identified an opportunity to increase student enrollments at a low marginal cost
driven by cross-selling opportunities, such as increasing the number of former undergraduate students subscribing to our medical residency exam solutions and the number of
former undergraduate and/or medical residency students applying to our graduate and CME courses.
Expand our B2B capabilities
B2B contracts are effective customer entry points to our products and services. Students are familiar with our platforms, increasing our brand equity and helping us attract
more physicians to enroll in preparatory courses, graduate programs and CME products.
Expand our distribution channels
We plan to continuously expand our distribution network by increasing our presence in direct and third-party channels, launching graduate courses or CME for third-party
continuing medical education hubs (including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics and other medical schools) to grow our graduate medical footprint, through partnerships with
such third-party continuing medical education hubs.
Leverage infrastructure and extract synergies from acquisitions
We believe we have been able to successfully integrate our acquisitions into our ecosystem. We plan to implement several measures to improve the profitability of recent
acquisitions, including but not limited to:
·
Streamlining fee discounts and scholarship policies;
·
Integrating operations with our shared-services center;
·
Streamlining faculty training in line with our career plan; and
·
Integrating teaching models into our academic model.
Continue to selectively pursue M&A opportunities
We plan to selectively pursue acquisitions that will complement our current medical education services offering and/or enhance our product portfolio, such as digital content
platforms, continuing medical education institutions and other medical certification companies, among others. We are currently evaluating possible acquisition opportunities and
submit non-binding proposals from time to time. We believe that we have developed a strong capability and track record of acquisitions. In 2022 to date, we acquired or invested in
three companies. The acquisitions will increase our total number of approved medical school seats to 3,163 as of the date of this annual report from 2,731 as of December 31, 2021.
In 2021, we acquired or invested in nine companies, which increased our medical school seats by more than 27.4% over the year. In 2020, we acquired or invested in six companies
and agreed to acquire two companies, which increased our medical school seats by more than 36% over the year. Our acquisition of Medcel enabled us to access the medical
residency preparation market, and the acquisition of IPEMED, enabled us to enter the graduate and specialization courses market. Our acquisition strategy is mainly focused on
expanding our medical school footprint by adding new institutions to our existing portfolio.
Enter into new markets
We believe our end-to-end physician-centric ecosystem is equipped to serve medical students in complementary segments where our innovative, methodological, data-driven
approach can continue to disrupt traditional vendors and legacy business models. We believe opportunities exist in new sectors and regions of Brazil. In the future, we intend to
focus on expanding further into continuing medical education. We may also seek to grow our business by selectively expanding into international markets with similar
fundamentals.
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Develop new products
We plan to continuously evolve our platform and offer solutions that keep up with the growing demands of our students. We have a planned pipeline of new products,
including new medical web-series seasons, corporate medical training, new extension health programs, a tutoring suite, a peer-to-peer suite and a virtual reality product.
Our Geographic Presence
Our headquarters and most of our shared services operations are located in Nova Lima, in the State of Minas Gerais. Our content creation and dedicated sales team is located
in São Paulo, in the State of São Paulo.
As of December 31, 2022, our network consisted of a total of 45 undergraduate and graduate campuses: (i) 32 undergraduate campuses are operating units (units that have
been approved by MEC and that have commenced operations)—30 of which offer a medical course, and one of which that has been approved by MEC but has not yet commenced
operations, and (ii) 13 graduate campuses that offer medicine- and health-related courses.
We plan to expand our network by opening one approved undergraduate medical school campuses we were awarded in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program by 2023.
As of December 31, 2022, we had 14,569 students enrolled in our online prep-courses spread across Brazil.
The chart and table below illustrate our current footprint of undergraduate and graduate medical schools.
Campus
State
Brand
Year of Acquisition
Approved Seats(1)
Semester(2)
Porto Nacional
TO
ITPAC
Before 2018
120
02.04
Pato Branco
PR
FADEP
2018
50
02.17
Pato Branco
PR
FADEP
2018
60
02.19
Itajubá
MG
FMIT
2018
87
01.68
Parnaíba
PI
IESVAP
2018
80
02.15
Palmas
TO
ITPAC
2018
120
02.17
Teresina
PI
UNINOVAFAPI
2018
110
02.04
Teresina
PI
UNINOVAFAPI
2018
61
02.17
São João Del Rei
MG
UNIPTAN
2018
38
02.15
São João Del Rei
MG
UNIPTAN
2018
11
02.16
Araguaína
TO
UNITPAC
2018
80
02.06
Ipatinga
MG
UNIVAÇO
2018
100
01.99
Marabá
PA
FACIMPA
2019
120
02.19
Vitória da Conquista
BA
FASA
2019
100
01.15
Itabuna
BA
FASA
2019
85
02.18
Cametá
PA
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
To be started
Cruzeiro do Sul
AC
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
01.21
Santa Inês
AM
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
02.20
Manacapuru
AM
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
02.22
Itacoatiara
MA
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
02.22
Abaetetuba
PA
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
02.22
Bragança
PA
ITPAC - Mais Médicos
2019
50
02.22
Itaperuna
RJ
Uniredentor
2019
112
02.15
João Pessoa
PB
FCMPB
2020
24
02.17
João Pessoa
PB
FCMPB
2020
33
02.18
João Pessoa
PB
FCMPB
2020
80
02.16
João Pessoa
PB
FCMPB
2020
20
02.18
Redenção
PA
FESAR
2020
120
02.18
Porto Velho
RO
UniSL
2020
52
02.19
Porto Velho
RO
UniSL
2020
130
02.05
Ji-Paraná
RO
UniSL
2020
28
02.21
Guanambi
BA
FIPGuanambi
2021
60
02.18
Garanhuns
PE
ITPAC
2021
120
02.21
Montes Claros
MG
UNIFIPMOC
2021
100
02.07
Duque de Caxias
RJ
UNIGRANRIO
2021
110
01.97
Duque de Caxias
RJ
UNIGRANRIO
2021
88
02.17
Rio de Janeiro
RJ
UNIGRANRIO
2021
110
02.04
Itabuna
BA
FASA
2023
64
01.23
Unit Alagoas
AL
UNIT
2023
100
02.14
Unit Alagoas
AL
UNIT
2023
40
02.16
Unit Jaboatão
PE
UNIT
2023
100
01.18
Unit Jaboatão
PE
UNIT
2023
100
01.19
(1) Number of medical seats presented are estimated.
(2) Schools with six or more years of operations are considered fully matured.
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Industry Overview
Introduction to Brazil’s education environment
Brazil’s education environment has become increasingly open to private capital. At the same time, the government has continued to play an important role through the
municipalities, states, and federal government.
Post-secondary education
Higher education in Brazil differs significantly from pre-secondary education. The majority of higher education schools are under private management and account for
approximately 88% (both for profit and nonprofit) of all higher education institutions, according to Sinopse Estatística da Educação Superior. Higher education institutions are
divided into three categories depending on the number of courses they offer, seniority of the teaching staff, and amount of research they conduct: they can be classified as
colleges, university centers or universities. Typical post-secondary programs take between four to six years to complete. While some courses in these programs only occur during
a certain period of the day (i.e., morning, afternoon, or evening), others are offered as full day courses. Tuition is paid on a monthly basis, primarily out of pocket by students and
their families. Government financing is available, but not easily accessible. The main programs are FIES and PROUNI, which together accounted for 48% of total financing in 2021
prior to more regulated policies in recent years, according to Sinopse Estatística da Educação Superior.
Introduction to Brazil’s medical education industry
In Brazil, aspiring physicians apply to medical school following graduation from secondary education. Medical school in Brazil is a six year undergraduate program. Upon
graduation, medical students gain a license and can start working as a generalist physician. At this point, they usually consider alternatives to gain a certification for one or more
medical specialties.
The first and most common path to obtaining a medical specialty certification is through a medical residency program. If a candidate chooses the medical residency path, the
student must pass an entrance examination, referred to as R1 exam administered by each institution offering a residency program. After getting approved by a residency institution,
the student then starts the first year of residency with the support of a government study grant throughout the specialization period. If the physician wants to pursue a sub
specialty, he or she will need additional years of study, which may or may not require incremental entrance tests.
Medical professionals that do not choose or fail to be admitted into a residency program can still pursue a medical specialty certification through other alternatives. For
instance, a generalist can take the specialist certification exam to become a specialist after meeting a variety of eligibility criteria. Those criteria can include internships, hours of
work under supervision of a medical specialist, or hours of study in a certified graduate program, among other methods. Depending on the desired level of medical specialty, it can
take four to 10 years for a generalist to meet the criteria and, in this context, graduate programs can be a shorter path to reach eligibility sooner.
As medical science continues to evolve very rapidly, medical professionals must seek ways to stay up to date on those developments. For that purpose, physicians and other
medical professionals tend to use numerous sources of continuing medical education, or CME, including short term programs, scientific paper digests, and medical congresses,
among others.
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Medical education system: Brazil vs. United States
While Brazil mandates that students pursue a six year specific undergraduate medical education, a student in the United States must typically earn a four year undergraduate
degree prior to applying for medical school. Although no specific undergraduate degree is required, pre medical, biology, and health focused majors are recommended.
A U.S. student must apply to medical school programs upon finishing his undergraduate degree, typically taking another four years to complete medical school. As is the case
in Brazil, the U.S. medical school application process is highly competitive and has historically seen increasing medical course applications. In 2018, 21,622 U.S. students were
enrolled out of 52,777 medical school applicants, representing an applicants per enrolled student ratio of 2.4x. Additionally, the number of medical school applicants increased at a
2.7% Compound Annual Growth Rate, or CAGR from 2010 to 2018, according to the AAMC.
While Brazilian students have the option to either pursue a medical residency or work as a generalist after graduating, U.S. students are required to go through a residency
program after completing medical school to become an authorized physician. To do this, the student must enroll in the National Residency Matching Program, or NRMP, which
matches physician applicants to U.S. residency training programs. In 2017, 35,969 U.S. medical school graduates applied for 31,757 residency positions, representing an applicants
per enrolled student ratio of 1.2x. To complete the program and become an authorized physician, each student must also pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or
USMLE.
The diagram below illustrates the structure and timeline of the Brazilian medical education system relative to the United States:
Source: MEC
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Source: AAMC
Regulatory overview and "Mais Médicos” program
Medical education in Brazil is subject to regulatory terms that aim to define the supply of medical seats across the country. From 2013 to 2018, the Brazilian government put
initiatives in place to increase the number of annual medical school and residency vacancies, which have been recently revised.
In 2013, Law No. 12,871 defined the protocol for the creation of new medical courses in Brazil to address issues such as the unequal distribution of doctors across Brazilian
states. Among the criteria that support the creation of medical schools seats, two relevant aspects are (i) the importance of these new openings in a specified region and (ii) the
sufficiency of the current medical infrastructure in both public regional hospitals and in the applicant medical institution in order to obtain government authorization.
To reduce the shortage of doctors and mitigate the perceived healthcare inequality, the Brazilian federal government implemented a strategic initiative called "Mais Médicos.”
The program’s main objectives included addressing the provision of doctors for primary care in municipalities, strengthening health care infrastructure, and allocating medical
workforce to underserved areas.
According to WHO, from its inception in 2013 until 2018, "Mais Médicos” assigned physicians to over 4,000 municipalities benefiting poorer areas. For example, during that
period, 63% of physicians working in this program in northeastern Brazil were assigned to work among the region’s poorest municipalities. Until July 2014, 91% of the
municipalities in northern Brazil with a shortage of physicians had been provided, on average, almost five physicians per municipality. Studies have demonstrated there was a
significant increase, from 62.7% to 70.4%, in the population receiving primary care coverage from 2014 to 2016.
Regarding academics, "Mais Médicos” implemented short- and long-term measures to improve the Brazilian medical training system in both quantitative and qualitative ways.
Among these measures was the opening of new medical school slots, in both undergraduate courses and residency programs. From its creation in 2013 until 2018, "Mais Médicos”
reached an annual contribution of 11,400 new student slots in medical schools as well as 12,400 student slots for medical residency.
With the increase in annual offerings through "Mais Médicos,” the MEC announced on April 5, 2018, that the government had decided to freeze the new offering of medical
seats for a period of five years. The decision was based on the previously defined target of at least 11,000 annual medical seats, which according to WHO had already been
achieved. However, on April 5, 2023, MEC issued Ordinance No. 650/23, which revoked the suspension under Ordinance No. 328/18 and set new rules for the opening of new
medicine courses. In particular, MEC will be required to conduct a public call for new courses, i.e., through the Mais Médicos program pursuant to Law No. 12,871/2013, and
subject any such courses to the prior review by the Interministerial Commission for Health Education Management (Comissão Interministerial de Gestão da Educação na Saúde).
By August 4, 2023, MEC must commence this public call and set the rules, procedures, decision-making standards and the calendar in connection with the fulfillment of medicine
course vacancies, this will result in the creation of new medical education courses or medicine course vacancies, which will in turn increase competition. As a result, we may be
required to reduce our tuition fees or increase our operating expenses (including our costs per student) in order to retain or attract students or to pursue new market opportunities,
and reduce our ability to fill all our medical seats capacity.
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Brazilian medical education quantitative assessment
Given the national regulatory framework, expanding medical seats depends mostly on quality attributes and the need for additional doctors in the given geography. The
number of medical seats remained approximately unchanged between 2005 and 2012, but increased at a faster pace from 2012 to 2014 to mitigate the shortage of physicians in the
country.
Over the last ten years, "Mais Médicos” has raised the medical seats offerings. From 2013 to 2022, it created approximately 21,000 seats in medical schools throughout the
country, which contributed to the increase in enrollment in private medical schools.
From 2012 to 2022, first-year enrollments in private medical schools have increased by 20,386, representing a 10.6% CAGR, compared to an additional 2,901 public medical first-
year enrollments during that period.
According to the Demografia Médica do Brasil report—which is co-produced by the Brazilian Medical Association (Associação Médica Brasileira) and the University of São
Paulo, Brazil, or Demografia Médica—the number of physicians in Brazil increased from 310,800 to 562,200 from 2010 to January 2023, representing an 80.8% increase. With that
demand in place, a supply of new healthcare professionals is expected to keep growing to keep up with the increased demand for public and private health services.
By January 2023, the total number of physicians in Brazil increased to 562,229 professionals, implying 2.60 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants.
Projection of the number of physicians in Brazil (2019 to 2028)
Source: Demografia Médica, 2022.
Fundamentals of medical education in Brazil
The medical education market in Brazil is supported mainly by the higher demand for medical courses than the actual seats offering, the low and uneven medical density when
compared to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD average, Brazil’s fast aging population, and compelling financial rewards for those seeking to
pursue a medical career.
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Brazil’s aging population
Brazil’s aging population is expected to drive an increase in demand for physicians and other healthcare service providers. Brazil’s aging ratio is twice that of the United
Kingdom and three times that of the United States. Compared to 1995, life expectancy at birth is up from 66 years to 76 years, driven primarily by medical and health improvements.
By 2030, 13.5% of the Brazilian population is expected to be older than 65 years, compared to 7.3% in 2010. Furthermore, in 2060, the percentage of the population of 60 years
and older is expected to exceed the number of people of 19 years and under, according to the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, or IBGE.
Population distribution by age group—Brazil
Source: IBGE.
Increase in medical services demand
The long-suppressed demand for health services in Brazil is expected to continue to increase given demographic changes in Brazil as well as a larger portion of the population
being able to access private healthcare services. As of December 31, 2020, Private Health Insurance penetration in Brazil reached 24.2%, according to data from ANS. This is lower
than countries such as Germany, Australia and the United States, which according to the OECD have 33.9%, 54.9% and 63.0% penetration, respectively. Even with the expected
increase in medical graduation, the demand for healthcare services is expected to surpass the current supply of physicians by medical schools creating a continued demand for
medical courses and graduate education.
According to Demografia Médica, Brazil currently has 2.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, which is considerably below the international average and the average of developed
countries, which have been through the demographic changes that are expected to happen in Brazil. For example, according to Demografia Médica, Italy had an average of 4.13
doctors per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022. Considering the projections of a total of 564,363 physicians in 2023 versus Brazil’s population growth over the same period, Brazil would still
have approximately 2.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, which is still below the OECD average.
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Doctors per thousand inhabitants, according to selected OECD countries (2022).
Source: OECD.
Shortage and distribution of medical professionals in Brazil
Brazil’s low medical density and inequality in physician distribution is illustrated in the figure below. São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have 3.5 and 3.8 doctors per 1,000
inhabitants, respectively, while the states of Pará and Acre have 1.2 and 1.4 doctors per inhabitant, respectively. The north and northeast regions are Brazil’s most underserved
areas and have been the focus of governmental physician assignment programs. According to Demografia Médica, the Brazilian average of physicians per 1,000 inhabitants is 2.6,
while the average outside urban capitals is 1.8.
Even with the expected increase in physicians over the next 10 years, Brazil’s medical density is expected to remain low when compared to developed countries, and is not
expected to achieve the average medical density of the OECD.
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Distribution of doctors according to Brazilian states—2022
Source: Demografia Médica, 2022.
Compelling financial rewards for pursuing a medical career
One of the notable arguments for pursuing a medical career in Brazil is the financial outcome for the future physician, with higher salaries and fast payback. The main points of
view that support the increasing demand for medical education analysis are: (i) nearly 100% employability of medical school graduates in Brazil; (ii) significantly higher salaries for
medical school graduates than those enrolled in engineering courses (by approximately 44%), and (iii) a five-year post-graduation average payback period.
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Source: Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada—IPEA, Brazilian Ministry of Labor, CAGED, eSocial, Empregador Web, Third-party consulting firm analysis.
Even when considering the comparatively high tuition paid during the six-year medical undergraduate program, its above average income after graduation results in an average
payback period of five years, a relatively short period compared to other undergraduate education majors.
Supply and demand imbalance for medical education
The number of applicants for medical school remained relatively constant from 2014 to 2017, with 196,000 applicants in both years. This compares to a 12.5% CAGR for the
increase of seats openings for medical schools in the same period. Although student seats have been increasing at higher rates, there remains a significant gap between the
demand and supply of medical education, which is expected to drive continued competitiveness in medical entrance exams.
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Applicants/openings for medical schools
Source: INEP, MEC, third-party consulting firm analysis. 2017-2023 figures are projections.
Total openings for medical school (in thousands)
Source: INEP, MEC, third-party consulting firm analysis. 2018-2023 figures are projections.
With future residency slots expected to remain virtually unchanged over the upcoming years and an occupancy rate of approximately 60% of current residency seats available
as of 2017, increased competitiveness is expected in residency programs.
Applicants/openings for medical residency
Source: MEC. 2019-2023 figures are projections.
Expansion in graduate programs and CME
The number of public and private medical graduate courses is not measured by any institution, as it is developing and growing as residency slots become increasingly
restricted. Typically educational institutions partner with hospitals to provide an adequate infrastructure for teaching students. Unlike residencies, students pay out-of-pocket
monthly tuition of around R$4,000, according to a third-party consulting firm. These are usually one to two year courses and there is currently no government student financing for
this segment.
Market assessment and forecasts on medical education
Medical schools
There are currently 337 medical schools in Brazil, of which 60% are private and 40% are governmentally run, according to MEC. In terms of student seats, the relative
distribution is comparable: 68% are private while 32% are governmentally run. The market is also highly fragmented. A student that begins a medical school program at the age of
18 would typically be expected to complete the program at 24 years old.
The medical schools segment shows that the current supply of students’ seats in medical courses has not been sufficient to service the growth in demand for medical
education in Brazil. The total number of enrolled medical students in private schools reached 108,000 in 2018 and is expected to increase to approximately 166,000 in 2023, assuming
there will not be new openings by the government in the next five years.
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Total students enrolled in private universities (in thousands)
Source: INEP, third-party consulting firm analysis. 2019-2023 figures are projections.
With the increasing demand creating a favorable scenario for medical school tuition, a rise in the average current tuition is expected to post a 5.1% CAGR in the next five years
and to reach R$119,000 in 2023, according to a third-party consulting firm. Both increases in the number of enrolled students and average tuition support a market 14.9% CAGR
between 2018 and 2023, implying that the current R$10 billion market would grow to become a R$19.8 billion market by 2023.
Residency and preparatory courses
The number of medical residency student slots available each year is regulated by the MEC and the Ministry of Health. Only hospitals are allowed to offer residency slots and
no educational institution does it unless it has its own teaching hospital. Each student receives a scholarship from the government for the duration of their residency (from one to
two years). Given the perceived lack of funding from the government, the number of residency students seats is expected to remain approximately unchanged in the future.
Openings for medical residency (in thousands)
Source: MEC.
According to Demografia Médica, in 2017, there were 790 hospitals that offered residency programs. The market is fragmented and the number of students’ seats varies
depending on the specialty the physician is looking for. In 2018, four main areas of interest corresponded to the first choice of approximately 40% of recently graduated students
applying to residency programs. A student that begins a medical residency program at the age of 24 would typically be expected to complete the program at 26 or 27 years old,
depending on the student’s chosen specialty.
Assuming that 80% of the students enrolled in the fifth and sixth years of medical schools have an interest in taking the R1 test and that the R3 students will continue to grow
at current rates, the preparatory courses segment is expected to grow from its current market size of R$1.0 billion to approximately R$2.4 billion by 2023, at a 18.7% CAGR.
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Graduate programs
Similar dynamics affect the graduate segment, in which a student that begins a graduate program at the age of 24 would typically be expected to complete the program at 26 or
27 years old, depending on the chosen course. Graduate courses are expected to benefit from the increase in new physicians graduating over the coming years, and have an
average duration of two to three years. The current graduate market accounts for a total of R$3.7 billion and is expected to grow at a 13.5% CAGR until 2023. According to a third-
party consulting firm, the implied applicant/opening ratio for medical residency programs was 4.3 in 2018.
This increase is primarily supported by the continuing need for specialization, which is expected to raise the current 77,000 students to approximately 118,000 students by end
of 2023. A factor that supports the demand is the possibility of a student pursuing more than a single specialization along their career. In line with the increasing number of
enrollments, the demand for specialization is expected to see price increases during the same period, implying a CAGR of 4.0%.
Specialization students (in thousands)
Source: MEC, third-party consulting firm analysis. 2019-2023 figures are projections.
CME
Doctors and other medical professionals are expected to continuously educate themselves on evolving developments within their practice throughout their careers.
Consequently, the CME market in Brazil is expected to experience an increase in demand as the number of medical school graduates increases. The total number of physicians in
Brazil is expected to increase from approximately 450,000 in 2018 to approximately 530,000 in 2023.
Total physicians in Brazil (in millions)
Source: Scheffer M. et al., Third-party consulting firm analysis. 2023-2028 figures are projections.
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With both expected growth in the number of physicians between 2018 and 2023 and a tuition adjustment over this period, the CME market is expected to reach a total value of
R$2.4 billion by 2023, compared to R$1.6 billion in 2018, implying an 8.5% CAGR. The increase is also supported by the need for continued education on new technologies and
procedures, two recurring topics in the medical education segment.
Another important element of the CME market is that it is currently not mandatory for doctors to regularly take CME courses. We expect this to change and become more in
line with other countries, where physicians must show their respective medical associations that they are up to date.
Other health non-medical school programs
Other health-related undergraduate courses which include dentistry, pharmacy, nutrition, physiotherapy, psychology, nursing, and physical education, enrolled a total of 1.3
million students in 2018, representing a R$17 billion market. Although the impact of regulation and macroeconomic factors are comparable to those of medical school programs,
fundamentals of other health non-medical school programs differ from those of medical schools because of consumer preferences, and the number of students is expected to
remain flat. For health-related non-medical schools, average tuition growth rates are expected to be in line with consumer inflation. These other health-related courses are expected
to grow at a 13.2% CAGR between 2018 and 2023, reaching a total addressable market of R$31.8 billion.
Non-medical health students enrolled (in millions)
Source: INEP, Third-party consulting firm analysis. 2019-2023 figures are projections.
Total health education market potential
Considering all medical segments combined, there was an addressable market related to medical careers of approximately R$16.4 billion as of December 31, 2018 and
encompassing over 700,000 lifelong medical learners, composed of:
·
a R$10.0 billion addressable medical school market, calculated as (i) the number of medical student enrollments totaling 108,000, based on historical enrollment trends, and
the addition of new medical schools seats (as published by the MEC), multiplied by (ii) the estimated R$92,400 average annual tuition per student, based on an average of
the annual tuition fees charged by private medical schools in Brazil;
·
a R$1.0 billion addressable residency preparatory courses market, calculated as (i) the number of medical residency candidates totaling 71,000, based on historical medical
school graduation records and the number of medical school residency candidates (as published by the MEC), multiplied by (ii) the estimated R$15,000 average annual
course fees per candidate, based on an average of the annual course fees charged by the four largest residency preparatory course providers in Brazil;
·
a R$3.7 billion addressable medical specialization courses market, calculated as (i) the number of physicians seeking specialization courses totaling 76,600, based on
historical medical school graduation and medical specialization course enrollment records (as published by the MEC), multiplied by (ii) the estimated R$48,800 average
annual course fees per physician, based on an average of the annual course fees charged by the four largest medical specialization course providers in Brazil; and
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·
a R$1.6 billion addressable continuing medical education, or CME, market, calculated as (i) the number of physicians seeking CME courses totaling 454,848, based on the
number of active physicians in Brazil (as published by the Brazilian Medical Association (Associação Médica Brasileira)), multiplied by (ii) the estimated R$3,500 annual
average amount spent per physician on CME courses, based on the findings of a primary survey conducted by a third-party consulting firm.
The total addressable market is expected to grow to R$31.6 billion and to over 910,000 lifelong medical learners by 2023. If the other health-related non-medical courses are
added to this figure, the addressable market increases to R$34.3 billion in 2018 and a projected R$64.9 billion in 2023.
Market Opportunity
According to a third-party consulting firm, the total addressable market for the medical and healthcare career segment in Brazil was R$66.5 billion as of March 31, 2020,
composed of (i) a R$14.0 billion medical school market, (ii) a R$1.5 billion residency preparatory courses market, (iii) a R$4.8 billion medical specialization courses market, (iv) a R$1.8
billion continuing medical education market, (v) a R$23.0 billion other health courses market and (vi) a R$21.4 billion medical digital services market. We estimate that we currently
capture approximately 1.5% of the total addressable market based on our revenue for the last 12 months ended June 30, 2020. This market encompasses over 800,000 lifelong
medical learners in Brazil, composed of 136,000 medical students, 91,000 students seeking residency preparatory courses, 90,000 and 500,000 physicians seeking to enroll in
specialization courses and CME, respectively, and 1,680,000 students in other health courses.
Medical education in Brazil benefits from a combination of demographic and social factors, such as the expected increase in the number of people over 65 due to the increase
in average life expectancy, as well as the shortage of medical professionals in Brazil, which has resulted in an imbalance between supply and demand. It also benefits from
macroeconomic and financial factors, such as the increase in average household income, which has resulted in an increase in demand for medical services and an increase in
private and public healthcare spending. Accordingly, we expect the medical education market in Brazil to continue to grow.
Additionally, given our end-to-end and physician-centric ecosystem, our strong business model, and our reputation for quality, we believe that we are well positioned to take
advantage of the favorable growth dynamics of the medical education market in Brazil. According to a third-party consulting firm, the total addressable market for medical
education is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2020 to 2025, reaching R$23.0 billion in 2025. Including other healthcare education services, the addressable market is
expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% in the same period, reaching R$105.3 billion by 2025.
Information
Medical
School
Preparatory
Courses for
Residency
Specialization
Courses
Continuing
Medical
Education
Other Health
Courses
Medical Digital
Services
Total
Total market (2020)(1) R$ billion
14.0
1.5
4.8
1.8
23.0
21.4
66.5
Total market (2025)(1) R$ billion
23.0
3.0
9.1
3.0
35.0
32.2
105.3
CAGR (5 years)
10.4%
14.9%
13.6%
10.8%
8.8%
8.5%
9.6%
AVG Ticket (2020)(1) R$
103,000
16,000
53,000
3,900
14,000
Total number of students (2020)(1)
136,000
91,000
90,000
500,000
1,680,000
Total number of students (2025)(1)
171,000
143,000
142,000
600,000
2,110,000
Afya’s market share (2020)(2)
6.7%
12.6%
5.0%
—
—
Source: Third-party consulting firm as of March 31, 2020.
(1) Estimated by the third-party consulting firm.
(2) Afya’s total students 2020 / total number of students 2020, by segment.
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Underlying Trends of Medical Education in Brazil
In addition to a large and underpenetrated total addressable market, we have identified other trends that contribute to the strength of the markets we serve:
·
Increased life expectancy and demand for medical services: The Brazilian population is aging at the fastest rate in its recent history. Average life expectancy is currently
76.2 years, and the number of people over 65 should double from 7% of the total population in 2012 to 14% of the total population in 2033. This has led to, and is expected
to continue to drive, increased demand for healthcare professionals. In addition, private healthcare spending and public healthcare spending in Brazil grew at a CAGR of
14.0% and 11.8%, respectively, from 2010 to 2015, primarily due to an increase in demand for medical services as a result of an aging population and an increase in average
household income. These trends have continued since 2015 to date.
·
Shortage of medical professionals in Brazil: There is a shortage of medical professionals in Brazil, primarily due to the uneven socio-economic environment. On average,
Brazilian cities with less than 50,000 inhabitants, which corresponds to approximately 90% of all cities in Brazil, have less than one physician per 1,000 residents. Brazil is
expected to have an average of 3.07 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants by 2028, below the average of 3.4 for 2018 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
or OECD, countries.
·
Attractive financial incentives: The medical profession is lucrative. Medical professionals are highly employable, with salaries that are on average more than three times
higher than the average salary for other professions such as engineering, nursing and law, and 1.9 to 3.8 times higher than the net present value of engineering, nursing or
law programs in Brazil.
·
Supply and demand imbalance for medical education: The number of available medical course seats in Brazil is controlled by MEC, which has limited medical school
intakes to current levels until 2023, resulting in a significant imbalance between supply and demand. In the last three years, medical schools have on average received five
applications per available medical course seat, and four applications per available residency program vacancy, and the number of applications are expected to increase.
We believe that graduate courses will gradually become a more popular, high-demand destination for physicians that are not admitted into residency programs.
·
CME Expansion: The growing number of physicians in Brazil and the demand for ongoing education on new medical procedures, drugs, technologies and developments
will continue to drive demand for CME.
·
Technological innovation is driving medical education: The current generation of medical students and professionals requires instantly accessible digital content. Over
600,000 biomedical articles have been published globally every year since 2005, and it is critical for lifelong learners to be able to access information and learning
methodologies regardless of location and physical availability.
·
Limited scope of existing product offerings: By generally limiting their focus on individual aspects of a student’s education cycle, traditional education providers have
struggled to build comprehensive student track records and profile databases. Consequently, there is a general lack of integrated platforms that apply accumulated
student information to efficiently tailor experiences to, or produce bespoke materials for, the particular needs of each student.
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We believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of this market and its trends, bringing a more effective, personal and diversified service to our students, which will enable
us to continue to grow our market share.
Our Competition
We believe we are the only company in Brazil with a focus on the entire learning career of a physician. However, several companies provide solutions that compete in some of
the markets in which we operate.
We compete directly or indirectly with other post-secondary institutions that offer medical courses or any of the other higher education courses in our portfolio. This market is
very fragmented and currently, there are more than 300 other institutions that offer medical courses in Brazil. The following table sets forth our main competitors and the number of
approved medical seats they had as of December 31, 2022:
Number of Approved Medical Seats
Company
As of
December 31, 2022
Afya Brazil
3,163
Player 1
2,097
Player 2
1,533
Player 3
521
Player 4
556
The market for graduate medical courses is relatively new and a few small players operate in this segment.
Our Products and Services
We offer the following educational products and services to lifelong medical learners enrolled across our evolving distribution network, as well as to third-party medical
schools.
Medical Schools
·
A fully integrated core curriculum is offered to our medical school students across all our campuses.
·
All our medical students have access to our supplemental instructional platforms as part of the internship module of their medical course, which we implemented for all
incoming medical students of the fifth and sixth academic year.
·
As of December 31, 2022, this product had 17,968 enrolled students, and had total historical combined tuition fees of R$2,032.9 million for the year ended December 31,
2022, which represented 30.9% and 77.1% of our total number of undergraduate enrolled students and our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees,
respectively. As of December 31, 2021, this product had 16,017 enrolled students, and had total historical combined tuition fees of R$1,511.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021, which represented 26.2% and 75.9% of our total number of our undergraduate enrolled students and our historical undergraduate programs combined
tuition fees, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, this product had 11,030 enrolled students, and had total historical combined tuition fees of R$911.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020, which represented 30.5% and 73.7% of our total number of our undergraduate enrolled students and our historical undergraduate programs
combined tuition fees, respectively.
Medical Residency Preparatory Courses
·
Instructional content in digital format is offered to medical students and newly graduated physicians to prepare them for medical residency exams.
·
Supplementary instructional content in digital format is offered to third-party medical schools that adopt our services.
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·
As of December 31, 2022, we had 14,569 enrolled students in our medical residency preparatory courses. As of December 31, 2021, we had 21,631 enrolled students in our
medical residency preparatory courses. As of December 31, 2020, we had 13,039 enrolled students in our medical residency preparatory courses.
Graduate Courses
·
Graduate medical courses are offered to our medical school students across all our campuses. These students also have access to some of our supplemental instructional
platforms.
·
Supplemental instructional content for different medical specializations is offered to individual lifelong medical learners in our graduate courses.
·
As of December 31, 2022, we had 4,280 enrolled students in our graduate courses. As of December 31, 2021, we had 3,189 enrolled students in our graduate courses. As of
December 31, 2020, we had 4,181 enrolled students in our graduate courses.
Other Programs
·
Other national core curriculum is offered to all students across all of our undergraduate campuses: healthcare degrees and a subset of non-healthcare degrees, including
business and engineering degrees offered by the companies we invested in or acquired.
·
As of December 31, 2022, these programs had 40,232 enrolled students, and had total combined tuition fees of R$2,241.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022,
which represented 69% and 22.8% of our total number of enrolled students and our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees, respectively. As of
December 31, 2021, these programs had 45,101 enrolled students, and had total combined tuition fees of R$478.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which
represented 73.8% and 24.1% of our total number of enrolled students and our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees, respectively. As of December 31,
2020, these programs had 25,176 enrolled students, and had total combined tuition fees of R$325.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, which represented 41.0%
and 14.0% of our total number of enrolled students and our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees, respectively.
Digital health services
·
Subscription-based mobile app and website portal focused on assisting health professionals and students with clinical decision-making for 30 medical specializations
through tools such as medical calculators, charts and updated content, including prescriptions, clinical scores, medical procedures and laboratory exams, among others.
·
Free instructional content we offer to physicians, healthcare professionals and students.
·
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately 260,710 monthly active users, consisting of approximately: 16,539 in Content and Technology for Medical Education,
221,762 in Clinical Decision Software, 20,936 in Clinical Management Tools and 1,473 in Physician-Patient Relationship.
·
Our acquisition of PEBMED marked our entry in the digital health services sector, which we believe adds value to our platform. In particular, our acquisition of PEBMED
included the Whitebook product, which added approximately 125,300 active users to our platform and increase our penetration in the segments in which we already
operate through digital health services.
The following chart sets forth our market share by career aging cohort as of December 31, 2022:
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Our Lifelong Medical Learner Clients
As of December 31, 2022, we had a total of 82,936 students across all our segments, including 17,968 enrolled in our undergraduate medical programs. As of December 31, 2022,
we had 20,456 enrolled students in our medical residency preparatory courses and 4,280 enrolled students in our medical specialization programs.
In addition to health sciences courses, which comprise medicine, dentistry, nursing, radiology, psychology, pharmacy, physical education, physiotherapy, nutrition and
biomedicine, we also offer degree programs and courses in other non-health sciences subjects and disciplines across several of our campuses, including undergraduate and post
graduate courses in business administration, accounting, law, civil engineering, industrial engineering and pedagogy. These non-health sciences courses are not part of our core
business—the number we offer has increased as a consequence of our strategic acquisitions in recent years of multi-disciplinary schools with strong health sciences programs,
which are our principal focus. Although non-health courses are not part of our growth strategy, we expect to continue to offer them to the extent they generate local demand.
These non-health sciences programs represented 10.1%, 12.0%, and 14.0% of total historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees for all courses offered in 2022, 2021 and
2020.
The attractive dynamics for medical education in Brazil, including high demand for medical services and low medical density, combined with the exceptional rewards a
physician receives (e.g., high wages, fast payback), create the perfect environment for us, with high demand for health sciences programs throughout the entire medical career.
This scenario enables us to target a unique student profile during our selection process, capturing the most capable individuals in Brazil.
According to Educainsights, medical students are, at the outset of their medical journey, different from students that pursue other career paths. For example, while 27% of
students from non-medical undergraduate courses have a private high school background, that number increases to 82% for medical students. In addition, 64% and 65% of medical
students have a father and mother with at least a higher education diploma, respectively, while for non-medical courses, these figures are 16% and 22%, respectively. As a result,
we are able to create a distinguished network of Afya students, which we believe is essential to the success of our long-term brand building initiatives.
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The following chart sets forth certain differences between medical and non-medical students in Brazil:
In addition, as of December 31, 2022, we had 16 contracts with other partner companies, which represents our B2B segment. These partnerships allow us to increase our
distribution outreach to other institutions around the country and help us achieve our mission.
Student Financing and Incentive Programs
Student financing program—Fundo de Financiamento Estudantil ("FIES”)
FIES is a MEC program created by Law No. 10,260/2001 to provide financing to undergraduate students who are unable to finance their own education.
After going through several reforms from 2015 onwards, the government launched the "New FIES” in early 2018, to be provided in the following categories:
·
Public FIES—Per capita income of up to three minimum wages, with zero interest rate. The financing is provided by federal government funds and contributions from
Higher Education Institutions, or HEIs, through the fund FG-FIES. Therefore, the credit risk is divided between the government and the private HEIs.
Private FIES ("P-FIES”)—Per capital income of up to five minimum wages, with low interest rates. Regional funds and private financial institutions, provide the financing.
·
As of December 31, 2022, our exposure to FIES was 6.4% of our total student base, which represented 8.3% of our total gross revenue for that period. See "Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Changes to the rules or delays or suspension of tuition payments made through FIES may
adversely affect our cash flows and our business.” for further information.
Incentive program—Programa Universidade Para Todos
Programa Universidade Para Todos, or PROUNI, was established in 2005 through Law No. 10,096/2005, which offers full and partial scholarships (50%), in private HEIs for
undergraduate and subsequent courses of specific training, to Brazilian students without a higher education diploma. Additionally, the Government offers federal tax exemptions to
the higher education institutions adhering to PROUNI.
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Private higher education institutions, whether for profit or not, may join PROUNI by signing a term of adhesion (valid for 10 years), and at least (i) offer a full scholarship for
every 10.7 students who pay a regular monthly fee and are regularly enrolled at the end of the previous school year; or (ii) an integral scholarship for every 22 students who pay
the regular monthly tuition fees in specific undergraduate and subsequent courses, provided they also offer scholarships of 50%, in amounts necessary so that the sum of the
benefits granted is equivalent to 8.5% of its annual revenue.
The tax exemptions (in whole or in part) for HEIs that participate in this program are the following:
·
IRPJ (income tax) and CSLL (social contribution), with respect to the portion of net income in proportion to revenues from traditional and technology undergraduate
programs; and
·
COFINS (Contribution for the Financing of Social Security) and PIS (Program of Social Integration), concerning revenues from traditional and technology undergraduate
programs.
As of December 31, 2022, our exposure to PROUNI was 8.8% of our student base. Although we fulfilled all required scholarships to receive 100% of tax exemption, PROUNI
does not cover our operation outside of our undergraduate programs.
Other private financing program
Afya offers private financing program through external partners (Banco Santander and Raydan) for undergraduate students. The credit risk is taken 100% by the partner.
Key Benefits for our Lifelong Medical Learners
We believe the end-to-end physician-centric ecosystem we have been developing for our students sets us apart from our peers, as we deliver content and learning activities
that are tailored to each student’s needs. This contributes to a more interactive and enjoyable learning process for our students, breaking away from a teaching system that we
perceive as presenting students with an overwhelming amount of content, unengaging classes and scattered information. We achieve this based on three main pillars: innovative
data-oriented methodology, a cutting-edge platform and state-of-the-art operating environment.
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Innovative, Data-oriented Methodology
Our proprietary methodology to support our students’ lifelong medical education is based on the following concepts:
Standardized medical curricula: The organization of our medical curricula around interdisciplinary macro-medical topics to guide the development of in-person teaching
plans and online learning tools, offering a scalable solution for schools through weekly synchronized content;
Active learning: Educational strategy to foster independent, critical and creative student thinking, as well as encourage effective teamwork through case-based problem-
solving exercises, debates and small-group discussions;
Blended learning: Balanced in-person teaching with technology-assisted activities to improve student and teacher efficiency and results; and
Adaptive learning: A personalized instruction and assessment tool that provides training and content tailor-made to each student’s individual profile. Students can access
real-time feedback on areas in which they can improve, effective learning methods and teaching/study plans that are most suitable for them.
Cutting-Edge Digital Platform
We deliver modern, bespoke verbal and practical teaching. We continuously invest in creating innovative, technology-enabled activities and features to enhance our platform.
We offer our medical school students doing internships or studying for residency exams the following features through our digital platform:
Web portal and in-app communication: Online platform combining supplementary instructional content and a personalized communication tool for students, through which
they can also access our content offline;
Learning tools: We have over 43,646 digitally managed and delivered instructional tools designed by teachers to address complex learning objectives. Content is organized
and tagged by theme and delivered in various formats, including, among others, online classes, podcasts, quizzes and books, to cater to different learning methods and the
preferences of each student. As of December 31, 2022, our learning tools consisted of more than 27,768 video classes, 5,991 book chapters, 5,193 podcasts and an exam bank of
123,948 questions.
Assessment tool: Broad database suite composed of quizzes and problem-solving activities, through which students can choose the subjects they would like to focus on, with
additional teacher-led instructional content;
Tutoring/mentoring platform: An online monitoring and support platform for both undergraduate and graduate medical students, which we launched in October 2019. The
platform allows tutors to interact with students through emails, video calls, voice calls and push notifications, and keeps records of such interactions. It also allows students to ask
the tutors questions and schedule appointments. The platform also tracks individual student performance and progress; and
Digital health services platform: A combination of mobile and web applications focused on helping physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals and medical students in their
clinical decision-making and providing medical references and updates for the medical community.
State-of-the-Art Operating Environment
For us, individualized learning should be used not just when offering content or technology-supported activities, but also during in-person encounters. Our professors can
use our resources to approach lessons more objectively, focusing on each student’s needs:
Modern teaching facilities: We have designed our classrooms to engage students in active learning. We rely on cutting-edge didactical equipment and simulation labs and
state-of-the-art realistic simulation technologies;
Medical specializations centers: Our campuses offer simulation centers and clinics where students can practice primary and secondary care, leveraging the learning process
and providing medical assistance to the local population; and
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Practical learning network: Throughout the internship cycle, our students can access over 60 partner teaching hospitals and clinics, the largest network of any education
group in Brazil.
Evolving Distribution Network
We believe that an effective end-to-end physician-centric ecosystem goes beyond offering the largest and most complete operating infrastructure to the students enrolled at
our campuses and with access to our digital platforms. Through our evolving distribution model, we also expect to empower lifelong medical learners across our growing network
of diversified partner teaching hospitals, clinics and third-party medical schools by increasing our products and services offerings as we continue to expand our business-to-
business, or B2B capabilities. Our partnerships include renowned institutions such as the Brazilian Cancer Foundation, which joined our network in January 2020.
Seasonality of Operations
Afya has three reporting segments: (1) Undergrad, which provides educational services through undergraduate courses related to medicine, other health sciences and other
undergraduate programs; (2) Continuing Education, which provides specialization programs and graduate courses; and (3) Digital Services, which provides content and
technology for medical education, clinical decisions software, practice management tools and electronic medical records, doctor-patient relationship, telemedicine and digital
prescription.
Undergrad segment revenues are related to the intake process and monthly tuition fees charged to students over the period; accordingly, this segment generally is not subject
to significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter. Continuing Education segment revenues are related to monthly intakes and tuition fees and generally is not subject to significant
fluctuations from quarter to quarter.
Digital Services is comprised mainly of Medcel, Pebmed, and iClinic revenues. While Pebmed and iClinic generally do not experience significant fluctuations resulting from
seasonality, Medcel’s revenue is concentrated in the first and last quarter of the fiscal year due to the period of enrollments of Medcel’s clients. In addition, the majority of
Medcel’s revenues are derived from printed books and e-books, which are recognized at the point in time when control is transferred to the customer. Consequently, the Digital
Services segment generally has higher revenues and results of operations in the first and last quarters of the fiscal year than in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year.
Marketing and Sales
Our marketing strategy is focused on identifying, qualifying and converting potential students into enrollments.
We execute our marketing strategy as follows:
·
Identification: We use online and offline media channels to distribute relevant content for all decision-making phases of current and future physicians, so that they
interact with our solutions throughout their learning careers.
·
Qualification: After we obtain data on a potential student, we identify his/her needs by offering content that matches his/her academic phase. In addition, through our
score models, we can identify potential students that are more likely to enroll with us.
·
Conversion: From that point on, we contact our sales department (online and inside sales) to convert potential students into enrolled students through structured sales
campaigns and continuous monitoring of conversion indices.
As our business model is end-to-end and physician-centric, we aim to accompany our lifelong learners at each stage of their careers. Therefore our sales funnels are calibrated
according to the segment’s supply-demand curve (graduation, preparatory, etc.), level of competition and other strategic variables.
For example, in medical schools, the most challenging task is to identify potential students interested in attending medical school in a given cycle, since conversion typically
occurs organically due to the high demand for these courses. Our challenge is to attract and enroll the best ENEM students in our medical schools. With respect to the medical
residency preparatory phase and graduate programs, our main focus is to show potential students the benefits of our methodology in terms of results and cost-benefit in order to
guide them towards adopting our solutions.
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Our marketing and sales efforts are supported by Salesforce products (Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud and Einstein), as well as other online analytical tools such as Google
Analytics.
Our business model, combined with the use of CRM tools gives us a unique competitive advantage: The ability to identify, market and offer products to virtually all medical
students and physicians in Brazil.
Technology and Intellectual Property
Technology
In recent years, we have implemented several initiatives to improve operational efficiency and to integrate processes across several campuses and operations. We plan to
continue this process in the future to fully consolidate Afya Brazil’s integrated systems with those of our recent acquisitions.
Shared Services Center
We have invested in a modern Shared Services Center, or SSC, to process back-office and non-student facing transactions that has idle capacity and is expected to enable
student base growth with low marginal costs.
Integrated Systems
We have adopted third-party systems to handle our internal systems in a fully integrated manner:
·
Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP: TOTVS ERP RM is the leading solution in the Education Industry in Brazil and delivers a flexible systemic solution that fits our
companies’ processes to improve management and organization. At the same time, it allows high governance of the processes, with complete control of all back-office
activities, preventing operational errors and allowing efficient tax-related calculations and control of government obligations.
·
Academic System: TOTVS RM Educacional is a mature platform that allows the configuration of the student payment plan attached to the disciplines enrolled and
processes preventing manual financial transactions and making the process more flexible and efficient. This system includes both Student and Faculty Portals, with
features that allow mobile frequency monitoring and provide payment solutions to students and also manages the faculties’ timesheet and payroll.
·
Learning Management System, or LMS: Canvas LMS is a cloud-native, highly scalable system that connects all digital learning tools and evaluation resources accessed
nationally by our faculties and students.
As of the date of this annual report, iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp, RX Pro, Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers, Glic and DelRey independently
operate their own ERP systems. We are working to migrate the systems from the companies described above in order to fully incorporate them into our integrated systems.
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as employee and third-party non-disclosure, confidentiality and other types of contractual
arrangements to establish, maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights, including with respect to our proprietary rights related to our products and services. In addition,
we license technology from third parties.
As of December 31, 2022, we owned 38,541 learning materials (e.g., classes, materials and videos) that comply with the national curriculum and that are developed by our
teachers. Moreover, as of the date of this annual report, we had no issued patents and one patent application pending in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, we were party to 337
agreements, with third-party authors with respect to educational content. As of December 31, 2022, we owned 299 trademark registrations in Brazil and we have also sought to
register trademarks abroad. We had six trademark registration requests for BioAtlas (a Medical Harbour product); three in the European Union and three in the United States of
America. Our request to register trademarks in China was rejected on November 22, 2022 by the Chinese Trademark Office of National Intellectual Property Administration due to
similarities with other trademarks and to the logo allegedly representing the content characteristics of the service. As of the date of this annual report, we have 129 pending
trademark applications in Brazil and unregistered trademarks that we use to promote our brand, and also own 297 registered domain names in Brazil.
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Insurance
We have insurance policies with reputable insurers in amounts considered sufficient by our management to cover potential losses arising from indemnities that we may have
to pay to third parties as a result of our operations. The policies for our operating units have an aggregate coverage limit of up to approximately R$330.3 million. The Company and
its subsidiaries have a risk management program with the purpose of delimiting the risks, seeking in the market coverage compatible with its size and operations. We seek coverage
against risks that are compatible with our scale and type of operations, considering the nature of our activities, the risks we are exposed to, market practices in our industry, and the
advice of our insurance consultants.
While we believe our insurance contracts reflect standard market practices, there are certain types of risks that may not be covered by the policies (such as war, terrorism, acts
of God and force majeure, liability for certain harm or interruption of certain activities). Therefore, if any of these uncovered events occur, we may be obliged to incur additional
costs to remedy the situation, reconstitute our assets and/or indemnify our customers, which may adversely affect us. Furthermore, even in the event that we incur a loss that is
covered by our policies, we cannot assure that damages awarded by our insurers will be sufficient to cover the losses arising from the insured event. See "Item 3. Key Information
—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We may be held liable for extraordinary events that may occur at our campuses, which may have an
adverse effect on our image and, consequently, our results of operations.”
Regulatory Overview
The Brazilian Constitution establishes education as a right for all citizens and a duty of the State and the family. Accordingly, the government is required to provide all
Brazilian citizens with access to free primary education with compulsory attendance. Private investment in education is permitted as long as entities providing education services
comply with the applicable rules and regulations.
The Brazilian education system is organized under a cooperative management among federal, state and municipal governments. The federal branch is required to organize and
coordinate the federal educational system in order to guarantee equal opportunity and quality of education throughout Brazil. The states and the Federal District are required to
focus on secondary education, while municipalities are responsible for providing pre-primary school and primary education.
Private Higher Education Institutions are part of the federal educational system and their activities are regulated by the federal government, and universities have didactic,
scientific and administrative autonomy as provided by the Brazilian Constitution.
Additionally, Law No. 9,394 of December 20, 1996, named by National Education Guidelines Law (Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação, or LDB) provides the guidelines for
the provision of educational services in Brazil and sets forth the federal government’s duty to, among others: (i) coordinate the national education system; (ii) prepare the National
Education Plan; (iii) provide technical and financial assistance to the states, the Federal District and municipalities; and (iv) define, in cooperation with other federal entities, the
responsibilities and guidelines for primary and secondary education, with the federal government’s priority in post-secondary education, issuing rules and regulations regarding
undergraduate and graduate programs, and carrying out the activities relating to the accreditation of institutions, authorization and recognition of courses and monitoring and
evaluation of the educational system as a whole.
In addition, the federal government, through Law No. 10,172 of January 9, 2001, implemented the first National Education Plan (Plano Nacional de Educação, or PNE), with a
duration of 10 years from the date of its publication. The PNE established objectives for post-secondary education to be met by all branches of government. The primary goal was
to offer post-secondary education to at least 30% of the population aged 18 to 24 by 2010. After the expiration of the first PNE, a new plan was enacted and the objectives were
revised for the period of 2014 to 2024, consolidated by Law No. 13,005 of June 25, 2014.
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The new goals consist of: (1) increasing post-secondary education enrollment rates to 50% of the population aged 18 to 24; (2) increasing the quality of post-secondary
education by raising the proportion of academic staff with master’s degrees and doctorate degrees to 75%, of which at least 35% shall be doctorates; and (3) increasing
progressively stricto sensu postgraduate programs. Such goals apply to each federation territory, and provide orientation for the private education sector.
Finally, each of the federal, state and municipal governments are required to prepare a 10-year education plan and to establish policies, guidelines and objectives applicable to
the segment of the Brazilian education system over which it has responsibility.
Post-secondary Education
The post-secondary education sector is subject to comprehensive government regulation. Its purpose is to ensure the quality of educational services, through evaluations of
the ability of educational institutions to meet minimum standards established by CNE and approved by MEC. This evaluation includes the analysis of pedagogical projects, the
infrastructure of Higher Educational Institutions, or HEIs, and their academic staff, and the results of such evaluations are considered in the proceedings for opening new units and
new courses.
Therefore, activities and courses offered by HEIs in Brazil depend on authorizations and are subject to ongoing regulation, guided by the results of quality assessments. The
federal responsibility to regulate, monitor and evaluate post-secondary education institutions and programs is exercised by the MEC, the CNE, the INEP and the CONAES.
Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education, or MEC, is the highest authority for post-secondary education within the Brazilian national education system, whose competence consists, among
other prerogatives, of the following: (1) confirming CNE’s accreditation decisions for post-secondary education institutions; (2) confirming evaluation systems and criteria adopted
by the INEP; (3) confirming opinions and regulation proposals from the CNE; (4) issuing rules and instructions for compliance with laws, decrees and regulations pertaining to
education issues; and (5) regulating and monitoring the post-secondary education system through its secretariats.
National Education Council
The National Education Council, or CNE, is a consulting and decision-making body monitored by the MEC, collectively comprised of the Chamber of Primary and Secondary
Education, or CEB, and the Chamber of Post-secondary Education, or CES, each composed of 12 members appointed by the President of Brazil.
CNE is required, among other responsibilities, to: (i) issue regulations to implement MEC’s guidelines, as well as advise and support MEC in its activities and decisions;
(ii) decide on accreditation applications and renewals from post-secondary education institutions engaged in distance learning, based on the opinion of the relevant secretariats;
(iii) propose guidelines and deliberate on the preparation of the evaluation instruments for accreditation and re-accreditation of institutions to be elaborated by INEP; (iv) issue
guidelines to be observed by SERES for accreditation and re-accreditation of universities, university centers and colleges; (v) determine, through the CES, the inclusion and
exclusion of course designation from the catalog of advanced technology courses; (vi) rule on appeals of decisions issued by SERES, CEB or CES; and (vii) analyze and propose
questions regarding the application of post-secondary education legislation to the MEC.
Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Research
The Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Research, or INEP, is a federal body linked to the MEC whose main responsibilities are, among others, to: (i) design, plan,
coordinate and operationalize actions for the evaluation of HEIs, undergraduate courses and government schools, as well as the National Student Performance Examination, or
ENADE, the examinations and assessments of undergraduate students; (ii) design, plan, coordinate, operationalize and evaluate indicators related to post-secondary education
resulting from examinations and inputs from official databases, the establishment and maintenance of databases of specialized evaluators and collaborators, including the
appointment of evaluation committees; (iii) prepare and submit to MEC the instruments for external evaluation (in loco), in accordance with the guidelines proposed by the SERES
and by other competent bodies; (iv) design, plan, evaluate and update the indicators for the external evaluation instruments in place, in accordance with the guidelines proposed
by CONAES; (v) chair the Technical Committee for Evaluation Monitoring; and (vi) plan, coordinate, operationalize and evaluate the actions necessary to achieve its objectives.
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National Higher Education Evaluation Commission
The National Higher Education Evaluation Commission, or CONAES, is a coordination and monitoring body of the National Higher Education Evaluation System, or SINAES,
monitored by MEC, composed of a President and 13 members, including one representative of the INEP, one representative of the Fundação de Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento
de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Foundation for the Coordination of Improvement of Post-secondary Education Personnel, or CAPES), three representatives of the MEC (one of
which must come from the body responsible for the regulation and monitoring of post-secondary education), one representative of the student body of post-secondary education
institutions, one representative of the academic staff of post-secondary education institutions, one representative of the administrative body of post-secondary education
institutions, and five members appointed by the Minister of Education, with distinguished scientific, philosophic and artistic knowledge and proven expertise in post-secondary
evaluation or management.
Among other activities CONAES is required to: (i) propose and evaluate the dynamics, procedures and mechanisms for institutional evaluation, courses and student
performance; (ii) establish guidelines for the organization of evaluation committees, analyze reports, prepare opinions and submit recommendations to the competent bodies;
(iii) formulate proposals for the development of HEIs, based on the analysis and recommendations produced in the evaluation processes; (iv) communicate with the state
educational systems, with the aim to establish common actions and criteria for the evaluation and supervision of post-secondary education; and (v) annually submit for approval
by the Minister of Education the list of courses for which students will apply for the ENADE.
Organization of Post-secondary Education Institutions
In order to allow post-secondary education institutions to fulfill their objectives, the LDB also provides that post-secondary education includes the following programs:
·
Undergraduate courses, including traditional and technological undergraduate courses, offering specific training and diplomas to students, open to candidates who have
completed high school or equivalent and who have been approved in the respective selection or entrance examinations;
·
Post-graduate courses, including master’s and doctoral degrees, specialization courses, further training courses and others, open to candidates who hold a diploma in an
undergraduate course and who meet the requirements laid down by educational institutions; and
·
Extension courses, understood as any academic, technical or cultural activity that is not included as an integral and compulsory part of the undergraduate and
postgraduate curriculum, in which the students receive certificates. Such courses are open to candidates who meet the requirements established in each case by
educational institutions.
According to the LDB, post-secondary education can be provided by public or private institutions. A private post-secondary education institution must be controlled,
managed and supported by an individual or a legal entity with responsibility for financing its supported entities. Post-secondary education institutions may be supported by for-
profit or not-for-profit private institutions, or supporting entities, as follows:
·
Private in the strict sense: private for-profit institutions created and maintained by one or more private individuals or legal entities;
·
Community: incorporated by groups of individuals or by one or more legal entities and that include representatives of the community in their organizational structure;
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·
Confessional: incorporated by groups of individuals or by one or more legal entities that meet the specific confessional and ideological orientation and that include
representatives of the community in their organizational structure; or
·
Philanthropic, in the form of the applicable regulations.
According to their organization and academic prerogatives, post-secondary education institutions can be:
·
Colleges: colleges are public or private HEIs offering post-secondary programs in one or more areas, maintained by a single supporting entity and with isolated
management and direction. Colleges are allowed to offer programs along several levels, namely bachelor’s, associate’s, specialization and graduate programs (master’s
and doctorate degrees). Colleges have minimum requirements with regard to the qualification of faculty members and their labor practices, and cannot establish new
campuses, courses, or spots without prior authorization from MEC;
·
University Centers: university centers are public or private education institutions offering several bachelor’s, associate’s and graduate programs, and are expected to
provide appropriate work conditions, education and qualification opportunities for their professors. To be considered a university center, the institution shall comply with
such requirements: (i) at least one-fifth of the faculty members of a university center must hold a master’s or doctorate degree; (ii) at least 20% of the faculty members
must work on a full-time basis; (iii) at least eight undergraduate courses shall be recognized and have obtained a satisfactory concept in the on-site external evaluation
carried out by INEP; (iv) have an institutionalized extension program in the areas of knowledge covered by their undergraduate courses; (v) have a scientific initiation
program with a project supervised by doctoral or masters professors, which may include programs of professional or technological initiation and initiation to teaching;
(vi) have obtained an Institutional Concept, or CI, greater than or equal to four in the on-site external evaluation performed by INEP; and (vii) have not been penalized as a
result of an administrative supervision process in the last two years; or
·
Universities: universities are public or private education institutions offering several post-secondary programs, continuing education and research development. Like
University Centers, certain requirements for university re-accreditation must be observed, namely: (i) one-third of the academic staff is hired on a full-time basis; (ii) one-
third of the faculty members must have a master’s or doctoral degree; (iii) at least 60.0% of the undergraduate courses shall be recognized and have a satisfactory concept
obtained in the evaluation proceedings carried out by INEP; (iv) have an institutionalized extension program in the areas of knowledge covered by their undergraduate
courses; (v) have a scientific initiation program with a project supervised by master’s or doctoral professors, which may include programs of professional or technological
initiation and initiation to teaching; (vi) have obtained CI greater than or equal to four in the external evaluation carried out by INEP; (vii) regularly offer four master’s
degree courses and two PhD courses recognized by MEC; and (viii) have not been penalized as a result of an administrative supervision process in the last two years.
The LDB provides that the following powers are granted to universities and university centers in the exercise of their autonomy, amongst others: (i) to create, organize and
discontinue post-secondary education programs on their premises, subject to the applicable regulation; (ii) to establish the curricula for programs, subject to the applicable general
guidelines; (iii) to establish plans, programs and projects in connection with scientific research, artistic production and extra-curricular activities; (iv) to establish the number of
student offerings available; and (v) to create and change their bylaws in accordance with the applicable general rules, as well as to award degrees, diplomas and other certificates.
Distance Learning
Distance learning in Brazil is regulated by article 80 of the LDB, by Decrees 9,057 and 9,235, both of 2017, by Ordinances No. 11 and 23, both of 2017, and CNE’s Resolution No.
1, of 2016.
Distance learning is defined as the educational method in which didactic and pedagogic processes are conducted through information and communication media and
technologies, with students and teachers interacting in educational activities while located in different locations or at different times.
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Pursuant to the applicable regulations, distance learning is subject to different factors compared to traditional methods, including: (i) reduced transmission costs in commercial
channels of sound and audiovisual broadcasting; (ii) concession of channels with exclusive educational purposes; and (iii) minimal time reservation, with no onus on the public
authorities, by the concessionaries of commercial channels.
Distance learning can be offered at the following levels and as part of the following educational methods: (i) primary and secondary education, as long as it is used only to
supplement learning processes or in emergency situations; (ii) education for young people and adults, according to specific legal criteria; (iii) special education, according to
specific legal criteria; (iv) professional education, covering technical programs at the secondary level and technological programs at the post-secondary level; and (v) post-
secondary education, covering graduate, master’s programs, specializations, and doctorate studies.
Graduate courses (bachelor’s, licentiate and technological) may be offered using distance learning methods whenever a post-secondary institution is regularly accredited by
the MEC for this purpose.
Pursuant to Decree No. 9,057, 2017, institutional accreditation and reaccreditation, as well as the authorization and recognition of courses and their renewal will be subject to
on-site evaluation, with the aim to verify the existence and suitability of the method, infrastructure, technology and personnel that may enable the execution of the activities
provided in the Institutional Development Plan or PDI and the Pedagogical Project of the Course, or PPC.
HEIs accredited for the offering of post-secondary education in the distance modality that hold autonomy prerogatives (universities and university centers) do not require
authorization for operation of the post-secondary course in the distance modality, but shall inform the MEC about the offering of the course within 60 days of the date of creation
of such course, for the purposes of supervision, evaluation and recognition. Also, accredited HEIs must inform the MEC about the creation of distance learning supporting units
and the alteration of their addresses.
Although distance learning is defined by the absence of direct contact between students and teachers, there are activities that must be conducted on-site, such as tutorials,
evaluations, internships, professional practice, laboratory and dissertation defense, which are to be provided in the educational and development projects of the institution and the
course. Accordingly, the distance learning institutions must provide the necessary infrastructure for the students to conduct those activities, using the headquarters of the
education institution or smaller supporting units throughout the country. Distance learning supporting units are no longer subject to on-site evaluation or required to obtain prior
authorization of MEC in order to be set up or operated. Pursuant to Ordinance No. 11/2017, such units can be created by a unilateral decision of the institution itself.
Distance courses and programs must be projected with the same defined duration for the respective on-site courses. The evaluation of the performance of students for the
purposes of promotion, conclusion of the course and obtainment of diplomas and certificates must be conducted through the conclusion of the programmed activities and on-site
exams by the accredited HEIs, following procedures and criteria defined in respective PPC.
The evaluation of the distance learning courses is performed in a very similar manner as the evaluation of on-site courses. In the event of any irregularity or non-compliance to
any of the previously established conditions set by the MEC, the competent body may initiate an administrative proceeding that may result in one or more penalties, such as:
(i) forfeiture of accreditation or reaccreditation to operate as a distance learning institution; (ii) intervention; (iii) temporary suspension of autonomy prerogatives; (iv) initiate
reaccreditation proceedings; (v) reduction of available vacancies within courses; (vi) temporary suspension of new students admissions; and (vii) temporary suspension of
courses offered.
Diplomas and certificates for distance learning courses and programs from accredited institutions are valid throughout the national territory and institutions are not entitled to
set different criteria for diplomas issued for distance learning courses and those issued for on-site courses.
Distance learning courses may be offered only by HEIs that hold specific accreditations for this purpose. It is MEC’s responsibility to promote the accreditation acts of post-
secondary institutions. To act outside the institution’s local geographic reach, the institution shall require an extraterritorial accreditation to the MEC.
Distance learning courses or programs require periodic renewal. Also, the accredited institution must initiate the authorized coursework within 24 months from the
accreditation, and if the institution does not implement the authorized activities in such time frame, it will be subject to an administrative proceeding that may result in the canceling
of the given authorization.
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Pursuant to Decree No. 9,057/2017, post-secondary courses may be offered in the distance learning modality through a partnership between an accredited distance HEI and
another company. In this case, applicable regulations establish that educational activities must be conducted in the facilities of the accredited HEI, which will be responsible before
MEC for the regularity of the teaching and learning processes. Accordingly, the HEI must inform MEC of its partnerships, describing their purpose and most relevant aspects, in
order for MEC to be able to assess eventual irregularities.
In any case, distance learning courses and programs are subject to the evaluation rules of the SINAES in the same manner that on-site courses are.
Regulatory Processes of Post-secondary Education Institutions
Accreditation of Post-secondary Education Institutions and Authorization and Recognition of Courses
A post-secondary education institution is initially accredited as a college. The accreditation as a university or university center is only granted after the institution has
operated as a college and met satisfactory quality standards, including positive assessments in the SINAES. In addition, the HEI must fulfill other legal requirements that could
vary according to the respective category, such as the requirement that a certain percentage of faculty members meet minimum graduation standards (i.e., a doctorate or master’s
degree), and specific types of labor regimes.
The application for qualification of a post-secondary education institution must be supported by various documents, including:
·
Supporting entity: (i) incorporation documents, duly registered with the competent body, evidencing its existence and legal capacity, in accordance with civil legislation;
(ii) proof of registration in the National Taxpayer’s Registry or, CNPJ; (iii) certificates of tax and social security compliance; (iv) proof of ownership of assets capable of
supporting the education institution; (v) financial statements; and (vi) consent form executed by the supporting entity’s legal representative, vouching for the veracity
and regularity of the provided information and the financial capability of the supporting entity; and
·
Post-secondary education institution: (i) proof of payment of the on-site evaluation fee related to the external evaluation to be performed by INEP; (ii) PDI; (iii) bylaws
and internal regulations; (iv) identification and qualification of managers, with a description of their academic and administrative experience; (v) receipt of regularity and
availability of the teaching facilities; (vi) plan of accessibility assurance, pursuant to the regulation and followed by a technical report by a competent professional or
public body; and (vii) compliance with the legal requirements related to the safety of the building, including having an escape route in case of fire, proved by a specific
report issued by the competent public body.
In relation to the accreditation process of a new post-secondary educational institution and linked course authorizations, MEC may issue a temporary accreditation act to
expedite the operation, pursuant to article 24 of Decree No. 9,235/2017, as long as the supporting entity complies with all the following requirements:
·
all self-supporting post-secondary education institutions have been reaccredited in the last five years obtaining an average Institutional Score (Conceito Institucional)
greater or equal to "4”;
·
none of its post-secondary education institutions have been subject to administrative penalties by MEC in the last two years; and
·
the courses to be offered by the new post-secondary institution, which are limited to a maximum of five courses, must already be offered by other institutions supported
by the same supporting entity and duly recognized by MEC in the last five years with a Program Score (Conceito de Curso) greater or equal to "4.”
Following the initial accreditation as a post-secondary education institution, colleges depend on an authorization issued by the MEC to offer post-secondary education
courses. Within their autonomy, universities and university centers do not depend on authorization by the MEC to create the majority of post-secondary education courses and
campuses in the same city as its headquarters, except for medicine, dentistry, psychology, nursery and law courses, which necessarily must be previously authorized by the MEC.
In any other cases, institutions are required to inform the MEC about the programs they offer for purposes of monitoring, evaluation and further recognition.
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In the authorization for post-secondary on-site courses of the federal education system the external in loco evaluation can be waived after documentary analysis if the
following requirements are met: (i) having an Institutional Score (Conceito Institucional) greater than or equal to "3”; (ii) absence of a supervision process; and (iii) the institution
offers other courses in the same area of knowledge which meet the minimum evaluation standards.
Requesting authorization for a course must be supported by the following documents, among others: (i) proof of payment of the on-site evaluation fee; (ii) the PPC, outlining
the number of students, classes, description of the program and other relevant academic elements, and describing the facilities, technology and staff for the distance learning
support units, if applicable; (iii) list of faculty members, together with the relevant agreements entered into with the education institution, together with their respective titles,
working hours and work regime; and (iv) proof of availability of the teaching facilities.
Universities and university centers may also apply for the accreditation of a campus not located in the same city as its headquarters, provided that it is located in the same
state. Such campuses and programs must integrate the same set of universities or university centers and will only enjoy autonomous prerogatives if there is compliance with the
same headquarters requirements and if a high quality degree is shown, through an average Institutional Score (Conceito Institucional) greater or equal to "4.” Therefore, even in
the case of universities or university centers, prior authorization from the MEC is necessary to create any courses on campuses not located in the same city as the university’s
headquarters.
Once authorization for a given program has been issued, post-secondary education institutions, including university centers and universities, must also file a request for the
recognition of the program as a condition for the national validation of the respective diploma. The requirement must be filed with MEC after the midway point of the term
established for the completion of the corresponding program and three-quarters completion of such term, and must include the following documents, among others: (i) PPC,
including the number of students, schedules and other pertinent academic information, (ii) list of faculty members, listed in the national registry of instructors, and (iii) proof of
availability of the teaching facilities.
Authorization and recognition of courses, as well as accreditation of post-secondary education institutions must have a limited term and be renewed periodically following the
regular evaluation process, currently established according to the evaluation cycles of the SINAES.
Our post-secondary education institutions are accredited by the MEC and their courses are duly authorized. We also make every effort to comply with all applicable
regulations to maintain our institutions and courses compliant with MEC regulations.
Restrictions on the Authorization and Recognition of New Medicine Courses
On April 5, 2018, MEC issued Ordinance No. 328/18, pursuant to which, among other measures, MEC imposed a five-year suspension on the granting of authorizations for the
creation of new medical education courses. However, on April 5, 2023, MEC issued Ordinance No. 650/23, which revoked the suspension under Ordinance No. 328/18 and set new
rules for the opening of new medicine courses. In particular, MEC will be required to conduct a public call for new courses, i.e., through the Mais Médicos program pursuant to Law
No. 12,871/2013, and subject any such courses to the prior review by the Interministerial Commission for Health Education Management (Comissão Interministerial de Gestão da
Educação na Saúde). By August 4, 2023, MEC must commence this public call and set the rules, procedures, decision-making standards and the calendar in connection with the
fulfillment of medicine course vacancies.
Modification of Supporting Entity
Pursuant to Decree No. 9,235/2017 and Ordinance No. 23/2017, modification of a supporting entity occurs whenever there is a change in the supporting entity or its controlling
shareholder, affecting the decision-making process. Although it no longer depends on the approval of MEC, MEC must be informed within 60 days of the consummation of the
event for the purposes of updating the registration with MEC. Such notice must be followed by all the legal documents related to the alteration, duly registered and the term of
commitment executed by the legal representatives of both the current and new supporting entities.
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The new supporting entity or controlling shareholder must meet the requirements necessary for the accreditation of a post-secondary education institution, which will be
assessed by MEC in the context of the institution’s reaccreditation proceedings. Additionally, the LDB also provides that educational institutions must inform the MEC of any
change in their bylaws, which must be registered with the competent bodies.
The transfer of programs or courses between HEIs is strictly prohibited and may subject the involved entities to penalties such as: (i) suspension of new students’ admission;
(ii) suspension of the offering of undergraduate or postgraduate lato sensu courses; (iii) suspension of the institution’s autonomy to, among others, create new post-secondary
courses and establish course curricula, if applicable; (iv) suspension of the license to establish new distance-learning programs; (v) override any ongoing regulatory requests filed
by the institution and prohibit the filing of any new regulatory requests; (vi) suspension of the participation in the New FIES; (vii) suspension of the participation in PROUNI; and
(viii) suspension or restriction to participate in other federal educational programs.
Financing Alternatives for Students: Incentive Programs
Programs providing public funding to students enrolled with private higher education institutions have been a major public policy to expand access to post-secondary
education in Brazil, especially for the low-income segment of the population. The most important programs are the following.
University for All Program
The University for All Program, or PROUNI is a tax incentive program created through the Provisional Measure No. 213, of September 10, 2004, later converted into Law No.
11,096, of January 13, 2005, that addresses the exemption of certain federal taxes imposed to post-secondary institutions that grant scholarships to low-income students enrolled in
undergraduate courses and technology graduate courses. By granting tax incentives to IES, PROUNI has played an important role in inciting the growth and private investment in
the post-secondary education sector.
Private post-secondary institutions may adhere to PROUNI by the execution of a specific agreement with MEC, valid for 10 years and renewable for the same period. Such
agreement must be emended every semester with an additional term establishing the number of scholarships to be offered in each course, unit and class, and what percentage of
scholarships shall be granted to indigenous and afro-Brazilians. In order to participate in PROUNI, an educational institution must:
·
be up to date with its tax obligations; and
·
comply with the following requirements: (1) offer at least one full-time scholarship to every 10.7 regularly paying students enrolled at the end of the past school year,
excluding the full-time scholarships granted through PROUNI or by the institution; or (2) offer one full-time scholarship to every 22 regularly paying students enrolled in
traditional and technological graduation courses, provided that it also offers scholarships (50% of the tuition) with a value equal to 8.5% of the paying students’ annual
revenue, available to students enrolled in traditional and technological graduation courses at the school year.
The ratio between the number of scholarships and the number of regularly paying students must be complied with annually. If the entity does not comply with the ratio during
a school year because of the withdrawal of students, the institution must adjust the number of scholarships in a proportionate matter for the subsequent school year.
Pursuant to Normative Ruling No. 1,394, of September 12, 2013, issued by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Office, a post-secondary education institution that has adhered to the
PROUNI is exempt, totally or partly, from the following taxes for the duration of the adherence period:
·
Income Tax ("IRPJ”) and Social Contribution on Net Income ("CSLL”), with respect to the net income proportionate to the revenue derived from the Undergraduate
Degree Programs and Extension courses; and
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Contribution for Social Security Financing ("Cofins”) and Contribution to the Social Integration Plan ("PIS”), with respect to the revenue derived from the traditional and
·
technological graduation courses.
In case a post-secondary education institution requires its exclusion from the PROUNI, its tax incentives will be suspended from the date of the solicitation and will not be
applicable for the entire period of the basis of calculation.
Normative Ruling No. 1,394, of September 12, 2013, introduced new provisions regarding the tax exemptions granted by PROUNI, in particular the form to calculate the
extension of the benefits. According to this Normative Ruling, in addition to the tax exemptions obtained by HEI signatories to PROUNI, tax exemptions are calculated based on the
Proportion of Effective Occupation of the Scholarships, or POEB, and the exemption related to IRPJ would be calculated without taking into account the additional 10%.
According to Article 7, II, amended by Normative Ruling No. 1,417, dated September 6, 2013, the calculation of the exemption also includes the additional 10% of IRPJ, in
addition to the CSLL rate. The amount calculated is the amount of the IRPJ and CSLL exemption, respectively, which may be deducted from the IRPJ and CSLL in relation to the
totality of our activities. Accordingly, with the issuance of Normative Ruling No. 1,417, of September 6, 2013, the IRPJ / CSLL exemption on our operating income proportionate to
the POEB will also include the additional 10% of IRPJ.
Moreover, considering that Normative Ruling No. 1,417, dated September 6, 2013, creates a potential limit to the amount of the tax exemption, the application of these new
provisions will result in a reduction in value of the tax exemption obtained. Nevertheless, the legality of the provisions introduced by Normative Ruling No. 1,417, of September 6,
2013, is being discussed before the judiciary, with several motions still pending.
Other modifications of the fiscal incentive granted by PROUNI were established by Normative Ruling No. 1,476, of July 1, 2014, which also amends the aforementioned
Normative Ruling No. 1,417, of September 6, 2013, in order to (i) exclude several amounts from the concept of profit of the holding, which impacts the enjoyment of the exemption
related to CSLL and IRPJ; and (ii) exclude the POEB from the applicable calculation, specifically for HEI with terms of adherence to PROUNI signed up to June 26, 2011, which also
affects the calculation of the exemption specifically enjoyed for the terms of adhesion celebrated in the period prior to that date.
Student Financing Program
The Programa de Financiamento Estudantil (Student Financing Program, or FIES), created by Law No. 10,260, of July 12, 2001, is a MEC program to finance students that
cannot bear the total costs of their education. FIES has been the most important program for the expansion of access to higher education in Brazil during the last decade, and it is
currently responsible for a significant part of the revenues of the majority of private higher education institutions.
FIES consists of funding granted by the National Fund for Educational Development, or FNDE to students regularly enrolled in an on-site course of a post-secondary private
HEI registered in the FIES that has been positively evaluated by the MEC. After a specific selection proceeding, students may be partially or wholly funded by FIES and, in that
case, FNDE will be responsible for crediting the corresponding amount due by the student to the private higher education institution.
Payments are made with government bonds whose primary purpose is to compensate tax debts from the private higher education institution. In case there are no debts to be
compensated, the institution can resell the bonds to the government by means of a specific proceeding that currently occurs on monthly basis. The frequency of these
proceedings could vary according to public financial constraints and the discretion of FNDE.
FIES has been substantially reshaped by Law No 13,530, dated December 7, 2017, and currently the program is not as broad as it used to be. According to applicable
regulations, in order to enroll students that have been selected by FIES, private higher education institutions are required to contribute to the fund 13% of the amount due by the
student to the institution as consideration for the educational services rendered in the first year of studies. This amount is subject to change in the following years and could vary
between 10% and 25% of the consideration due, depending on specific circumstances.
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National Higher Education Evaluation System
The National Higher Education Evaluation System, or SINAES was created by Law No. 10,861 of April 14, 2004, with the purpose of evaluating post-secondary education
institutions, undergraduate courses and measuring student academic performance. The main objective of this evaluation system is to assess the quality of education in the
country, providing guidelines for MEC to decide upon institutional reaccreditation, recognition and renewal of recognition of courses. Additionally, SINAES is responsible for
improving the quality of post-secondary education in Brazil given that MEC can identify deficiencies and establish specific conditions for institutions to remedy their issues and
resume their operations.
The SINAES is monitored and coordinated by the CONAES and INEP has a very important role in all processes. The results of the evaluation of post-secondary education
institutions and their programs are public and represented on a five level scale as follows:
·
Level 5 indicates excellent conditions;
·
Level 4 indicates more than satisfactory conditions;
·
Levels 3 indicates satisfactory conditions; and
·
Levels 1 and 2 indicate unsatisfactory conditions.
Pursuant to applicable regulations, evaluation processes consist of a preliminary assessment of several conditions relating to the institution and its courses, such as
infrastructure, titles of faculty members, work schedule of faculty members and student performance. Every year INEP establishes a method to evaluate those elements and for
them to correspond to a number in the five level scale.
The preliminary assessment is a complex process based on quality indicators as follows:
(a) National Student Performance Examination
The National Student Performance Examination, or ENADE, is a test applied to a number of students that are completing courses. It evaluates students’ knowledge regarding
the content provided in the curricular guidelines of the respective undergraduate course, their skills and competencies. ENADE’s results are considered in the composition of
quality indexes for courses and institutions.
(b) Preliminary Course Concept
The Preliminary Course Concept, or CPC, is compound of the ENADE score, the Difference Indicator between Observed and Expected Performance, or IDD, and factors that
include teacher titles, the work schedule of faculty staff and infrastructure of the institution. It is an indicator of the state of undergraduate courses in the country. CPC 1 and 2
courses are automatically included in the INEP examiner’s visit schedule for on-site verification of teaching conditions. Courses with a concept equal to or greater than 3 can
choose not to receive the visit of the evaluators and, thus, transform the CPC into a permanent concept (the Course Concept). The CPC is released every year for a specific group
of courses along with the results of ENADE.
(c) General Course Index
The General Course Index, or IGC, of the institution summarizes in a single indicator the results of CPC and the evaluation of master’s and doctorate courses of each
educational institution. With regard to graduate courses, CAPES indexes are used and adapted to the scale according to a methodology provided by INEP, given that they are
organized in a different manner. IGC also goes from 1 to 5 and is published by INEP/MEC, after the release of the results of ENADE and CPC. The IGC is a criterion in the
accreditation and re-accreditation processes of institutions and also in the authorization process for new courses: institutions with IGCs less than 3, for example, may have their
applications for new courses rejected by the MEC. Similarly, the indicator is used to guide the expansion of quality education: institutions with good performance are exempted
from the authorization of the MEC to open courses.
(d) Indicator of Difference Between Observed and Expected Performance
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The Indicator of Difference Between Observed and Expected Performance, or IDD, is aimed at providing a reference of the contribution of the course to the learning of each
student. For that purpose, it compares the results of the ENADE with the performance of the same student in the ENEM. The indicator has a scale of 1 to 5.
Following preliminary assessments, all institutions are typically subject to an on-site evaluation to confirm the results. However, given the size of the system, MEC gives
institutions the option to convert the results of the preliminary assessments into final results and, therefore, forgo on-site evaluations. For institutions that obtain unsatisfactory
levels, MEC on-site evaluations are mandatory.
Even before the on-site evaluation, MEC is entitled to apply precautionary measures when preliminary assessments of the institution or course are not considered satisfactory,
such as: (i) suspension of new enrollments within the respective course or the entire institution; (ii) reduction of vacancies; and (iii) suspension of all regulatory proceedings for
institutional reaccreditation, new authorizations, recognitions or renewals of recognitions.
Should the level be confirmed as less than three by the on-site evaluation, MEC may propose a term of commitment to the institution, in order for it to correct the
unsatisfactory conditions within a specific deadline. Failure to uphold, in full or in part, the conditions established in the term of commitment may result in one or more penalties to
be applied by the MEC, such as: (i) temporary suspension of the opening of a selection process of graduation courses; (ii) disqualification from the operating authorization of the
higher education institution or recognition of courses offered; and (iii) warning, suspension or cancellation of the mandate of the officer responsible for the action not executed, in
the case of public HEI.
After the on-site evaluations, institutions and courses obtain definitive quality concepts, as follows:
(a) Institutional Concept, which is the result of the on-site evaluation of the institution performed by INEP; and
(b) Course Concept, which is the result of the on-site evaluation of the course performed by INEP.
Accreditation for Postgraduate programs
Lato sensu
Post-secondary HEIs accredited for offering undergraduate courses and that have at least one regular undergraduate course or a stricto sensu postgraduate course can offer
lato sensu postgraduate in the subjects in which they are accredited, either on-site or through distance learning.
The offering of postgraduate programs does not require an authorization to operate, even if it is offered by a college. However, it must be notified to MEC, through MEC’s
system (e-MEC), within 60 days of the date of creation of such course.
The lato sensu postgraduate courses are aimed at students who hold a diploma in an undergraduate course and satisfy the criteria of the institution that is offering the
postgraduate course. The postgraduate courses must meet the following requirements: (i) curriculum with a minimum study load of 360 hours; and (ii) a teaching staff composed of
at least 30% masters- or doctorate-level graduates of stricto sensu postgraduate courses.
Stricto sensu
The authorization and recognition of stricto sensu postgraduate courses (masters and doctorates) must be evaluated by CAPES, submitted to CNE’s deliberation and
approved by MEC.
The HEIs can only initiate masters and doctorate courses activities following publication of the homologation of CNE’s favorable opinion by MEC in the Official Gazette.
As part of its analysis, CAPES must consider the general requirements and the specific parameters of the subject area to which each course is linked. The general requirements
are: (i) alignment of the proposal with the postgraduate planning of the institution; (ii) suitability and justification of the proposal for the regional or national development and its
economic and social importance; (iii) clarity and consistency of the proposal with detailed information on its objectives, area of concentration, lines of research, curricular structure,
discipline and bibliographic references; (iv) clarity of the criteria adopted to select the students, justifications for the profile of the aimed formation and profile of the egress;
(v) proof that the teaching staff has academic, didactic, technical and scientific competence and qualifications related to the purpose of the course; (vi) a permanent teaching staff
to ensure the regularity and quality of teaching, research and orientation activities; (vii) indication of up to five intellectual productions of each permanent teacher; and
(viii) physical and technological infrastructure of teaching and research adequate for the development of the proposed activities.
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Authorizations of new stricto sensu postgraduate courses must be requested at specific dates, as defined by CAPES and published in the Official Gazette.
The "Mais Médicos” program
Law No. 12,871/2013, established the "Mais Médicos” program, an initiative designed to address medical professional shortages in certain municipalities and underserved
regions of Brazil and improve healthcare infrastructure and services. This law establishes specific regulations for medical courses, including criteria for approving the creation of
new courses in Brazil involving the definition of its location, the mandatory contribution to the public health infrastructure according to the specific categories established by
Ordinance No. 16/2014 issued by MEC (i.e., training of health professionals, building or reforming of health service structure, purchasing of medical equipment and supplies and
study grant to the medical residency program) and also the conditions for public-private partnerships to implement the course.
Within the "Mais Médicos” program, supporting entities are no longer able to choose the location of their courses or establish all conditions of supply, which have been
transferred to MEC. The proceedings to implement a medical course, therefore, are more bureaucratic and time consuming. Basically, MEC publishes a public auction notice to
select municipalities that will receive medical courses. After this selection, it issues another public auction notice with the criteria for private higher institutions to compete for the
right to implement courses in the municipalities previously selected.
Since its creation in 2013, the "Mais Médicos” program has created approximately 5,430 new medical school seats and approximately 12,400 new medical residencies annually,
composed of public and private institutions. Notwithstanding this, the number of private vacancies was the lowest in Brazilian history when compared to regimes that previously
ruled the offering of medical courses from 1996-2002 and 2002-2013.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 523/2018, enacted by MEC on June 1, 2018, each medical school that has been granted a "Mais Médicos” program medical course authorization or
that is applying for one may file a motion with MEC requesting a maximum of 100 additional medical school seats. This right is limited to a single motion per medical school and is
subject to several requirements, including but not limited to, requirements related to the availability of medical school infrastructure (including access to public health facilities
through partnerships with the local Brazilian Public Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, or "SUS”) authorities), obligations to meet certain quality assurance standards, and
the absence of any penalties in the two years prior to the filing of the motion restricting medical school vacancies.
C. Organizational Structure
All of our subsidiaries are incorporated in Brazil. The following is a chart of our current corporate structure as of the date of this annual report:
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(1) Except for UEPC, all subsidiaries are controlled and/or wholly-owned by Afya Brazil.
(2) UNINOVAFAPI refers to IESP.
(3) ADMED refers to Além da Medicina.
D. Property, Plant and Equipment
Our corporate headquarters, which include product development, sales, marketing, and business operations, are located in Nova Lima, State of Minas Gerais. It consists of
1,425 square meters of space under two leases, both expiring in 2024.
In addition to our corporate headquarters and as of December 31, 2022, we leased almost all of our operational, sales, and administrative facilities. We believe that our facilities
are suitable and adequate for our business as presently conducted, however, we periodically review our facility requirements and may acquire new space to meet the needs of our
business or consolidate and dispose of facilities that are no longer required.
ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
A. Operating Results
Overview
We are the leading medical education group in Brazil based on the number of medical school seats, as published by MEC as of December 31, 2022, delivering an end-to-end
physician-centric ecosystem that serves and empowers students to be lifelong medical learners from the moment they join us as medical students through their medical residency
preparation, graduation program, and CME.
Our innovative methodological approach combines integrated content, interactive learning, and an adaptive experience for lifelong medical learners. Through our educational
content and technology-enabled activities, we focus on effective, personalized learning that mirrors one-on-one tutoring.
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As of December 31, 2022, we had 58,200 enrolled students, compared to 61,118 enrolled students as of December 31, 2021, representing a decrease of 4.7% for the period, and
compared to 36,206 enrolled students as of December 31, 2020, representing an increase of 68.8% for the period.
Our ability to execute our business model and strategy, primarily through our (i) acquisitions (which represented approximately 48% of our total growth in terms of revenue in
2022, 80.5% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2021 and 54.0% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2020) and (ii) organic growth (which represented approximately 52%
of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2022, 19.5% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2021, and 46.0% of our total growth in terms of revenue in 2020), has led to growth,
profitability and cash generation.
In 2018, we were also awarded seven new undergraduate campuses in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program, the largest number awarded to any education group, with
a total of 350 new medical school seats. The operation of such campuses is subject to the verification by MEC of the satisfactory implementation by Afya Brazil of all regulatory
requirements. As of the date of this annual report, MEC already inspected six of these campuses and already issued the authorization to operate. Accordingly, we plan to expand
our network, and expect to open an additional campus starting in 2023, taking our total to 32 campuses in 13 Brazilian states and approximately 3,163 available medical school seats
per year.
Our Growth
Our revenue growth and increased profitability have been driven by:
·
Maturation of current number of authorized medical school seats – Anticipated and contracted growth visibility until 2028 from new medical seats awarded to our
schools, that are in the process of maturing, and new seats from our awarded campuses in connection with the "Mais Médicos” program and which became operational in
2022;
·
Ability to set price – readjustment of tuition fees paid by students enrolled in our medical schools above published inflation indexes. In 2018, we increased the tuition fees
for our first-year incoming medical students, on average, by 13.0% (an increase considerably above the 3.7% IPCA inflation rate for this same period). Since 2018, this
tuition fees readjustment has applied to all new first-year incoming students. Given that the average length of our medical courses is six years, this tuition fee readjustment
will guarantee revenue growth until 2024;
·
Expansion of medical residency preparation and graduate programs enrollments – Increase in number of students adopting our digital platform, as well as partners and
students enrolling in our medical graduate courses;
·
Deepening of relationships across lifelong medical learners base – Cross-selling opportunities such as increasing the number of former undergraduate students
subscribing to our medical residency prep solutions and the number of former undergraduate and/or medical residency prep students applying to our graduate and CME
courses;
·
M&A – Acquisition or investment in businesses that complement our medical education services offering. In 2022, we acquired or invested in three companies, Além da
Medicina, Cardiopapers, and Glic, which increased our Digital Services segment by 25.0% when compared to December 31, 2021. In 2021, we acquired or invested in nine
companies, UNIFIPMoc, Unigranrio and Garanhuns, medical schools which increased our medical school seats by more than 37% when compared to December 31, 2020,
and iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp and RX PRO, digital health services companies that strengthened our digital business strategy. In 2020, we
acquired or invested in six companies, UniRedentor, UniSL, FESAR and FCMPB, medical schools which increased our medical school seats by more than 36% when
compared to December 31, 2019, and PEBMED and MedPhone, digital health services companies that strengthened our digital business strategy; and
·
Synergies extraction – Successful implementation of several measures to improve the profitability of recent acquisitions, such as streamlining fee discounts and
scholarship policies, integrating operations with our shared-services center; and aligning newly acquired faculty teams with our career plan.
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Key Business Metrics
We review the following key metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic
decisions:
Contribution of Medicine to Total historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees
We believe the metric that best demonstrates our focus on medical education and its relevance to our products and services offering is historical undergraduate programs
combined tuition fees from medicine as a percentage of our total undergraduate programs combined tuition fees.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees from medicine were 77.1%, 75.9% and 73.7%, respectively, of
total undergraduate programs combined tuition fees.
Historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees*
The following table sets forth information that was derived from the historical operating information, for the year ended December 31, 2020, for Afya Brazil, for each of the
Acquired Companies since the date of acquisition. It does not represent revenue as disclosed in our financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report, which are
presented as the sum of (a) gross tuition fees charged to undergraduate students, (b) gross tuition fees charged to graduate students and (c) scholarships.
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2022
2021
2020
(in US$
millions(1))
(in R$ millions)
(except percentages)
Medical school programs
389.6
2,032.9
1,511.4
911.0
Other undergraduate health sciences programs
64.4
336.2
239.5
152.5
Other undergraduate programs(2)
51.0
266.3
239.2
173.0
Undergraduate programs combined tuition fees
505.1
2,635.4
1,990.1
1,236.5
% Medicine(3)
77.1%
77.1%
75.9%
73.7%
% Health sciences programs(4)
12.7%
12.7%
88.0%
86.0%
*
Historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees is the sum equal to the total tuition fees charged to undergraduate students, as derived from historical operating
information of Afya Brazil and the Acquired Companies for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020,
historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees charged to undergraduate students by us were R$2,635.4 million, R$1,990.1 million and R$1,236.5 million, respectively.
Historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees does not include tuition fees we charge graduate students. We present historical undergraduate programs combined
tuition fees because, given our limited operating history and that our historical financial information and operational information included elsewhere in this annual report may
not be representative of our results and operations as a consolidated company, we believe that it may help investors assess the past operating results of the Acquired
Companies as combined with Afya Brazil. This metric also shows the percentage of revenues we derive from our medicine and health sciences programs, which are our core
business. We present historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees as the sum of gross tuition fees charged to undergraduate students, which differs from the
tuition fees set forth in our financial statements, which are presented as the sum of (a) gross tuition fees charged to undergraduate students, (b) gross tuition fees charged to
graduate students and (c) scholarships which are presented as the sum of gross tuition fees charged to students net of cancellations, discounts and taxes, and which also
include revenue from admission fees and income from leases, among others. The past performance of Afya Brazil and the Acquired Companies, as reflected in the historical
undergraduate programs combined tuition fees information, may not be indicative of our future performance or any future anticipated synergies, future operating efficiencies
or cost savings that may result from these acquisitions. For further information, see "Part I—Introduction—Financial Information—Historical Undergraduate Programs
Combined Tuition Fees.”
(1) For convenience purposes only, amounts in reais for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been translated to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of R$5.218 to US$1.00, the
commercial selling rate for U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022, as reported by the Central Bank. These translations should not be considered representations that any such
amounts have been, could have been or could be converted at that or any other exchange rate. See "Item 3. Key Information—Selected Financial Data—Exchange Rates” for
further information about recent fluctuations in exchange rates.
(2) Represents all non-health sciences undergraduate programs.
(3) Calculated as medical school programs divided by the historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees.
(4) Calculated as the sum of medical school programs and other undergraduate health sciences programs, divided by the historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees.
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Medical School Regulatory Capacity and Capacity at Maturation
Medical school regulatory capacity and capacity at maturation are operating metrics that provide visibility into our medical school enrollments contracted growth given the
supply and demand imbalance in the medical school market and the fact that our medical schools have historically operated very close to their regulatory capacity. Accordingly,
the gradual increase in our capacity helps explain the increase in our medical school enrollments, which in turn helps explain our medical school enrollments contracted growth.
Contracted growth refers only to schools that are in the initial six years of operation. In addition, since the maximum number of medical seats per medical school is set by applicable
regulations, the only way to grow our medical school seats, and therefore our number of enrollments, is through acquisitions or starting new medical schools.
Medical school regulatory capacity is defined by the number of medical schools seats available per year awarded by the MEC plus the additional seats associated with
PROUNI and FIES, multiplied by the number of years of operations since the seats were awarded, up to the sixth year of operations (maturation). Capacity at maturation represents
the maximum number of approved seats at a medical school six years after becoming operational. Our medical schools have a six-year maturation cycle because medical school
programs in Brazil are for a duration of six years. A maturation cycle represents the period starting when a medical school commences its operations with a first year medical school
class of students which progresses through the required six years as the next classes begin behind it, and ends when the medical school has six school years of medical students
and has therefore reached capacity at maturation (i.e., the maximum number of approved seats).
For illustration, a medical school that is awarded 100 seats from the MEC has the opportunity to add up to 20 additional seats:
·
10 more seats by adhering to PROUNI (one seat for every 10.7 seats awarded by MEC); and
·
10 more seats by adhering to FIES (10% of the seats awarded by MEC).
Illustrative evolution of regulatory capacity per medical school
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Our medical school regulatory capacity by seats was 2,823 and 2,731 seats and our capacity at maturation was 20,325 and 17,863, as of December 31, 2022 and December 31,
2021, respectively. Assuming our medical schools continue to operate at full capacity, we estimate reaching a total medical student base of 22,774 students by 2028.
Medical School Occupancy Rate
The occupancy rate of our medical schools is the ratio of the number of students effectively enrolled divided by the regulatory capacity in a given period. While we believe
retention rates are an important measure of quality and customer satisfaction, we believe that occupancy rate is a more meaningful metric as it captures not only our ability to retain
students but also to find new students to compensate for eventual dropouts. Our management does not separately measure retention rates to make decisions about our business.
The following table sets forth our medical seats occupancy rate as of the dates indicated.
As of December 31,
2022
2021
2020
Occupancy rate
~100.0%
~100.0%
~100.0%
Significant Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
We believe that our results of operations and financial performance will be driven by the following trends and factors:
Regulatory Environment and Mais Médicos Program
Our business is significantly influenced by the regulatory environment of the educational industry in Brazil. We are subject to various federal laws and extensive government
regulations by MEC, CNE, INEP, FIES and CONAES, among others. In particular, medical education in Brazil is subject to regulations that aim to control the supply of medical seats
across Brazil and their geographic allocation including, but not limited to Law No. 12,871/2013, which created the "Mais Médicos” program, whose main objectives include
addressing the provision of doctors for primary care in municipalities, strengthen health care infrastructure and allocate medical workforce to vulnerable areas.
With the increase in annual offerings through "Mais Médicos,” on April 5, 2018, MEC issued Ordinance No. 328/18, pursuant to which, among other measures, MEC imposed
a five-year suspension on the granting of authorizations for the creation of new medical education courses. However, on April 5, 2023, MEC issued Ordinance No. 650/23, which
revoked the suspension under Ordinance No. 328/18 and set new rules for the opening of new medicine courses. In particular, MEC will be required to conduct a public call for new
courses, i.e., through the Mais Médicos program pursuant to Law No. 12,871/2013, and subject any such courses to the prior review by the Interministerial Commission for Health
Education Management (Comissão Interministerial de Gestão da Educação na Saúde). By August 4, 2023, MEC must commence this public call and set the rules, procedures,
decision-making standards and the calendar in connection with the fulfillment of medicine course vacancies, this will result in the creation of new medical education courses or
medicine course vacancies, which will in turn increase competition. As a result, we may be required to reduce our tuition fees or increase our operating expenses (including our
costs per student) in order to retain or attract students or to pursue new market opportunities, and reduce our ability to fill all our medical seats capacity.
In addition, although Ordinance No. 650/23 requires a public call prior to the authorization of a new medicine course, some educational institutions have been judicially
challenging this restriction before Brazilian courts to compel MEC to receive and review requests for new medicine courses outside the Mais Médicos program rules by alleging
that these rules are an undue restriction on freedom of competition. Certain courts may ultimately compel the MEC to receive and review these requests. For instance, Declaratory
Action of Constitutionality (Ação Declaratória de Constitucionalidade) No. 81 was filed by the Brazilian National Association of Private Universities (Associação Nacional das
Universidades Particulares) before the Brazilian Supreme Court to discuss the validity of these restrictions.
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For further information, see "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Regulatory Overview,” "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks
Relating to Our Business and Industry—The post-secondary education sector is highly regulated, and our failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations could
significantly impact our business,” "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We are subject to supervision by MEC and,
consequently, may suffer sanctions as a result of non-compliance with any regulatory requirements” and "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—We face significant
competition in each program we offer and each geographic region in which we operate. If we fail to compete efficiently, we may lose market share and our profitability may be
adversely affected.”
Scholarships, Student Financing and Tax Benefits
A large number of our students fund their tuition fees through financing from FIES. In addition, we participate in the PROUNI scholarship program, and we benefit from tax
benefits in return. For more information on our students enrolled in these programs, see "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Regulatory Overview—
Financing Alternatives for Students: Incentive Programs—University for All Program (PROUNI),” "Regulatory Overview—Financing Alternatives for Students: Incentive
Programs—Student Financing Program (FIES),” "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Changes to the rules or delays
or suspension of tuition payments made through FIES may adversely affect our cash flows and our business,” and "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks
Relating to Our Business and Industry—If we lose the benefits of federal tax exemptions provided under the PROUNI program, our business, financial condition and results of
operations may be materially adversely affected.” In addition to PROUNI and FIES, Afya participates in private financing programs through external partners (Banco Santander and
Raydan) for undergraduate students.
Brazilian Macroeconomic Environment
All of our operations are located in Brazil. As a result, our revenues and profitability are affected by political and economic developments in Brazil and the effect that these
factors have on the availability of credit, disposable income, employment rates and average wages in Brazil. Our operations, and the industry in general, may be affected changes in
economic conditions.
Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, as measured by gross domestic product, or GDP. The following table shows data for real GDP, inflation and interest rates in
Brazil and the U.S. dollar/real exchange rate at the dates and for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
Real growth (contraction) in gross domestic product
2.9%
4.6%
(4.1)%
Inflation (IGP-M)(1)
5.5%
17.8%
23.1%
Inflation (IPCA)(2)
5.8%
10.1%
4.5%
Long-term interest rates—TJLP (average)(3)
7.2%
4.8%
4.9%
CDI interest rate(4)
13.7%
9.1%
1.9%
Period-end exchange rate—reais per US$1.00
5.218
5.581
5.196
Average exchange rate—reais per US$1.00(5)
5.165
5.412
5.158
Appreciation (depreciation) of the real vs. US$ in the period(6)
6.5%
(7.3)%
(28.9%)
Unemployment rate(7)
7.9%
11.1%
13.5%
Source: FGV, IBGE, Central Bank and Bloomberg.
(1) Inflation (IGP-M) is the general market price index measured by the FGV.
(2) Inflation (IPCA) is a broad consumer price index measured by the IBGE.
(3) TJLP is the Brazilian long-term interest rate (average of monthly rates for the period).
(4) The CDI (certificado de depósito interbancário) interest rate is an average of interbank overnight rates in Brazil.
(5) Average of the exchange rate on each business day of the year.
(6) Comparing the US$ closing selling exchange rate as reported by the Central Bank at the end of the period’s last day with the day immediately prior to the first day of the period
discussed.
(7) Average unemployment rate for the year as measured by the IBGE.
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Inflation directly affects our current operating costs and expenses, adjusted by reference to indexes that reflect the inflation rate such as the IGP-M or IPCA, primarily as a
result of annual adjustments to faculty member and employee salaries. Historically, inflation has been more than offset by the tuition fees we charge our students.
Our financial performance is also marginally tied to fluctuations in interest rates, such as the CDI rate, because such fluctuations affect the value of our financial investments.
We are also exposed to fluctuations in interest rates on our accounts payable to selling shareholders which are indexed to the CDI, IPCA and SELIC.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response may continue adversely impacting the Brazilian macroeconomic environment and our business. See "Item
3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,
have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business.”
Acquisitions
We may face significant challenges in the process of integrating the operations of our acquired companies. If we are not able to manage these integrations effectively, our
results of operations may be affected. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We may not be able to identify and
acquire new medical higher education institutions or meet our strategic and financial goals in connection with any business acquisition we seek, and difficulties in effectively
integrating and managing a growing number of acquisitions may adversely affect our strategic objectives” and "Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our
Recent Acquisitions.”
Business Segments
In 2021, in connection with the recent acquisitions of digital and technology companies, the Company revised its operating segments. As result, the Company has three
operating segments as opposed to the previously reported Business Unit 1 (educational services through undergraduate and graduate courses related to medicine, other health
sciences and other undergraduate programs) and Business Unit 2 (residency preparatory courses and medical post-graduate specialization programs, delivering printed and digital
content, an online medical education platform). The three reportable segments are as follows:
·
Undergrad, which provides educational services through undergraduate courses related to medicine, other health sciences and other undergraduate programs;
·
Continuing Education, which provides specialization programs and graduate courses; and
·
Digital Services, which provides content and technology for medical education, clinical decisions software, practice management tools and electronic medical records, doctor-
patient relationship, telemedicine and digital prescription.
Due to changes in operating segments, segment information for the year ended December 31, 2020 has been restated. Segment information is presented consistently with the
internal reports provided to the our chief executive officer, who is our chief operating decision maker (CODM) and is responsible for allocating resources, assessing the
performance of our operating segments, and making our strategic decisions.
No operating segments have been aggregated to form the above reportable operating segments. There is only one geographic region and the results are monitored and
evaluated as a single business.
Description of Principal Line Items
Revenue
Our revenue consists primarily of tuition fees we charge for medical schools and other undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as from fees we charge for our medical
residency preparatory courses and mobile app subscription for digital medical content. We also generate revenue from other student fees and certain education-related activities
that typically trend with tuition revenues.
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Cost of services
Cost of services includes expenses related to payroll, rent, hospital agreements, utilities and depreciation and amortization. Cost of services amounted to 36.9%, 37.9% and
36.2% of our revenue in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Operating expenses
Our operating expenses includes expenses for personnel, general and administrative, management and officer compensation, marketing and other income (expenses), net.
Personnel. Personnel expenses consist of wages, overtime, benefits (meal vouchers, transportation vouchers and medical and dental insurance, among others), profit sharing,
social contribution and payroll taxes. In Brazil, social contribution and payroll taxes consist of the Brazilian Social Security Institute (Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social)
contribution, or INSS, and the Brazilian Unemployment Severance Fund (Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço) contribution, or FGTS.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses mainly consist of: (i) building infrastructure expenses, such as rent and property maintenance; (ii) utilities
expenses; (iii) expenses for computer system maintenance and office automation, such as software licenses, as well as for integrated accounting, treasury, financial planning and
cost management systems; (iv) sales and marketing expenses; (v) allowance for doubtful accounts; and (vi) amounts paid for professional services, such as consultants, auditors
and outside counsel.
Other income (expenses), net. Other income (expenses), net, consists mainly of miscellaneous income and/or expense items.
Finance result
Our finance result includes finance income and finance expenses.
Our finance income consists mainly of income from interest earned on financial investments and interest received on late payments from students. Our finance expenses
consist mainly of interest expenses from accounts payable to selling shareholders, loans and lease liabilities, foreign exchange associated with our cash in US Dollars and banking
fees.
We also have cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, we have foreign exchange gain or losses from the changes in U.S. dollars against the
Brazilian real.
Income taxes expenses
Income taxes expenses includes current income taxes and social contribution.
Historical Consolidated Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared to the year ended December 31, 2021
The following table sets forth our historical consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
Variation (%)
(in R$ millions, except for percentages)
Revenue
2,329.1
1,719.4
35.5%
Cost of services
(859.6)
(652.3)
31.8%
Gross profit
1,469.5
1,067.1
37.7%
General and administrative expenses
(798.2)
(622.6)
28.2%
Other expenses, net
(7.3)
(3.6)
101.4%
Operating income
664.0
440.9
50.6%
Finance income
102.0
64.6
58.0%
Finance expenses
(349.9)
(243.8)
43.5%
Finance result
(247.9)
(179.2)
38.3%
Share of income of associate
12.2
11.8
3.3%
Income before income taxes
428.3
273.5
56.6%
Income taxes expenses
(35.7)
(31.2)
14.3%
Net income
392.6
242.3
62.0%
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Revenue
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$2,329.1 million, an increase of R$609.7 million, or 35.5%, from R$1,719.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. On
a per segment basis, our revenue was primarily affected by the following:
·
In our Undergrad segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$2,037.9 million, an increase of 36.0%, or R$539.5 million, from R$1,498.4 million for the year
ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) organic revenue growth of 18.6%, mainly due to the maturation of medical school seats and an
increase of 9.1% in the average ticket of Medical programs, from an average ticket of R$8,615 in 2021 compared to R$9,400 in 2022; and (ii) the consolidation of the results
of four Mais Medicos campuses opened in the third quarter of 2022 (Abaetetuba, Itacoatiara, Bragança and Manacapuru), resulting in an increase of R$9.2 million in our
Undergrad segment’s revenue in 2022;
·
In our Continuing Education segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$108.8 million, an increase of 49.1%, or R$35.8 million, from R$73.0 million for
the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to a 34.2% increase in active paying students (from 3,189 active paying students in 2021
compared to 4,280 active paying students in 2022), primarily because of segment recovery after in-person activities were resumed with the winding down of the COVID-19
pandemic; and
·
In our Digital Services segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$190.0 million, an increase of 25.0%, or R$38.0 million, from R$152.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) the consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2022 (Além da Medicina,
Cardiopapers and Glic), resulting in an increase of R$23.2 million in our Digital Services segment’s revenue in 2022; and (ii) organic growth as a result of a combination of
(a) a positive start to B2B engagements, which reached roughly 100 contracts—including pharma solutions and RX PRO contracts—with 45 different pharmaceutical
industry companies, resulting in an increase of R$14.3 million in our Digital Services segment’s revenue in 2022, and (b) the expansion of the active payers in our B2P
business, mainly by Whitebook, iClinic, and Shosp, as offset in part by the lower performance of Medcel due to greater competition in the Residency Preparatory market
resulting in an increase of R$0.5 million in our Digital Services segment’s revenue in 2022.
Cost of services
Cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$859.6 million, an increase of R$207.3 million, or 31.8%, from R$652.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
As a percentage of revenue, our cost of services decreased to 36.9% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 37.9% for the year ended December 31, 2021. On a per
segment basis, our cost of services was primarily affected by the following:
·
In our Undergrad segment, cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$763.2 million, an increase of R$208.2 million, or 37.5%, from R$555.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) the consolidation of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 of
companies acquired in 2021 (UnifipMoc and Unigranrio), resulting in an increase of R$99.2 million in our Undergrad segment’s cost of services; (ii) an increase of R$56.6
million applied to salaries; (iii) an increase of R$17.9 million applied to hospital and medical agreements; and (iv) an increase of R$34.5 million in other costs in our
Undergrad segment in 2022;
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·
In our Continuing Education segment, cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$56.6 million, an increase of R$5.8 million, or 11.4%, from R$50.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) R$5.3 million in costs associated with the opening of new IPEMED units in 2022; and
(ii) an increase of R$0.3 million applied to salaries in our Continuing Education segment in the year ended December 31, 2022.
·
In our Digital Services segment, cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$47.4 million, a decrease of R$3.1 million, or 6.1%, from R$50.5 million for the
year ended December 31, 2021. This decrease was primarily attributable to: cost reductions in the amount of R$8.1 million in our Medcel operations.
Gross profit
As a result of the foregoing, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$1,469.5 million, an increase of R$402.4 million, or 37.7%, from R$1,067.1 million for the
year ended December 31, 2021. On a per segment basis, our gross profit was the following:
·
In our Undergrad segment, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$1,274.7 million, an increase of R$331.3 million, or 35.1%, from R$943.4 million for the
year ended December 31, 2021;
·
In our Continuing Education segment, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$52.3 million, an increase of R$30.0 million, or 135.3%, from R$22.2 million
for the year ended December 31, 2021; and
·
In our Digital Services segment, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$142.5 million, an increase of R$41.1 million, or 40.5%, from R$101.5 million for the
year ended December 31, 2021.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$798.2 million, an increase of R$175.5 million, or 28.2%, from R$622.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) the consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2022 (Além da Medicina, CardioPapers and
Glic), resulting in an increase of R$19.7 million in our general and administrative expenses in 2022; (ii) an increase of R$29.3 million in maintenance expenses, from R$47.1 million for
the year ended December 31, 2021 to R$76.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily in connection with improvements relating to the regular operations of
companies acquired in the period; (iii) an increase of R$8.7 million in sales and marketing, from R$39.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to R$48.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2022, also mostly related to advertising expenses of companies acquired in the period; and (iv) an increase of R$81.4 million in payroll expenses, from R$248.1
million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to R$329.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Operating income
For the reasons discussed above, operating income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$664.0 million, an increase of R$223.1 million, or 50.6%, from R$440.9 million for
the year ended December 31, 2021.
Finance result
Finance result for the year ended December 31, 2022 was a net finance expense of R$247.9 million, compared to a net finance expense of R$179.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021, for the reasons described below.
Finance income. Finance income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$102.0 million, an increase of R$37.5 million, from R$64.6 million for the year ended December 31,
2021. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in interest received of R$4.2 million, and (ii) an increase in income from financial investments of R$32.0 million.
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Finance expenses. Finance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$349.9 million, an increase of R$106.1 million, from R$243.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in interest expenses on lease liabilities of R$21.4 million, as a result of the companies acquired and new
lease agreements in the period, (ii) an increase in interest expense of R$91.6 million, mainly as a result of interest rates in Brazil during 2022 and the maturation of our convertible
preferred shares; and (iii) a decrease in foreign exchange loss of R$17.1 million in 2022, as a result of favorable foreign exchange impacts on our cash and banks in the period.
Income before income taxes
As a result of the foregoing, income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$428.3 million, an increase of R$154.8 million, or 56.6%, from R$273.5
million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Income taxes expenses
Income taxes expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$35.7 million, an increase of R$4.5 million, from R$31.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the
effective tax rate decreased from 11.4% for the year ended December 31, 2021, to 8.3% for the ended year December 31, 2022. This decrease in our effective tax rate was primarily
attributable to: (i) the decrease of the tax effect on losses from Afya Limited, an entity not subject to taxation, from 13.8% of our income before income taxes to 7.7% of our income
before income taxes, and (ii) the decrease in our unrecognized deferred tax assets from 31.5% of our income before income taxes to 27.4% of our income before income taxes.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, our net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was R$392.6 million, an increase of R$150.3 million, or 62.0%, from R$242.3 million for the year
ended December 31, 2021.
Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Revenue
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$1,719.4 million, an increase of R$518.2 million, or 43.1%, from R$1,201.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. On
a per segment basis, our revenue was primarily affected by the following:
·
In our Undergrad segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$1,498.4 million, an increase of 49.5%, or R$495.9 million, from R$1,002.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) organic revenue growth of 13.4%, mainly due to the maturation of medical school seats and an
increase of 6.8% in the average ticket of Medical programs, from an average ticket of R$8,065 in 2020 compared to R$8,615 in 2021, resulting in an increase of R$133.9
million in our Undergrad segment’s revenue in 2021; and (ii) consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2021 (UNIFIPMoc and Unigranrio)
including two Mais Medicos campuses opened at the end of 2020 (Santa Ines and Cruzeiro do Sul), resulting in an increase of R$209.3 million in our Undergrad segment’s
revenue;
·
In our Continuing Education segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$73.0 million, a decrease of 31.9%, or R$34.2 million, from R$107.2 million for the
year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was primarily attributable to a 23.7% reduction in active paying students (from 4,181 active paying students in 2020
compared to 3,189 active paying students in 2021), primarily because of: (i) in-person practical programs that have not been offered since the first half of 2020; and (ii)
physicians’ decision to postpone admission to specialization courses due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
·
In our Digital Services segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$147.9 million, an increase of 61.6%, or R$56.4 million, from R$91.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) the consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2021 (iClinic, Medicinae,
Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp and RX Pro), resulting in an increase of R$22.8 million in our Digital Services segment’s revenue in 2021; and (ii) the fact that
PEBMED had consolidated 12 months of revenue in 2021, against approximately five months of revenue in 2020, as the PEBMED acquisition was closed in July 2020,
resulting in an increase of R$38.5 million in our Digital Services segment’s revenue in 2021.
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Cost of services
Cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$652.3 million, an increase of R$217.6 million, or 50.1%, from R$434.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
As a percentage of revenue, our cost of services increased to 37.9% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 36.2% for the year ended December 31, 2020. On a per
segment basis, our cost of services was primarily affected by inflation during the period and by the following:
·
In our Undergrad segment, cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$555.0 million, an increase of R$173.0 million, or 45.3%, from R$382.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) the consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2021 (UNIFIPMoc and
Unigranrio), resulting in an increase of R$86.1 million in our Undergrad segment’s cost of services; (ii) an increase of R$17.4 million in 2021 in severance and other costs
associated with downsizing teaching staff at some of our recently acquired units in order for us to benefit from synergies; and (iii) an increase of R$121.8 million applied to
salaries in our Undergrad segment in 2021;
·
In our Continuing Education segment, cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$50.8 million, an increase of R$10.8 million, or 27%, from R$40.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) R$5.6 million in costs associated with opening six new IPEMED units in 2021; and (ii)
an increase of R$0.9 million applied to salaries in our Continuing Education segment in 2021; and
·
In our Digital Services segment, cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$50.5 million, an increase of R$36.2 million, or 253.1%, from R$14.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) the consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2021 (iClinic,
Medicinae, Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp and RX Pro), resulting in an increase of R$11.8 million in our Digital Services segment’s cost of services; (ii) the fact that
PEBMED had consolidated 12 months of cost of services in 2021, against approximately five months of cost of services in 2020, resulting in an increase of R$5.2 million in
our Digital Services segment’s cost of services; and (iii) an increase of R$5.6 million applied to salaries in our Digital Services segment in 2021.
Gross profit
As a result of the foregoing, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$1,067.1 million, an increase of R$300.5 million, or 39.2%, from R$766.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020. On a per segment basis, our gross profit was the following:
·
In our Undergrad segment, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$943.4 million, an increase of R$322.9 million, or 52.0%, from R$620.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020;
·
In our Continuing Education segment, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$22.2 million, a decrease of R$45.0 million, or 67.0%, from R$67.2 million for
the year ended December 31, 2020; and
·
In our Digital Services segment, gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$101.5 million, an increase of R$22.6 million, or 28.7%, from R$78.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 2020.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$622.6 million, an increase of R$219.7 million, or 54.6%, from R$402.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to: (i) the consolidation of the results of operations of acquired companies in 2021 (iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour,
Cliquefarma, Shosp, UNIFIPMoc, Unigranrio and RX Pro), resulting in an increase of R$65.8 million in our general and administrative expenses in 2021; (ii) an increase of R$26.4
million in maintenance expenses, from R$20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to R$47.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily in connection with
improvements to companies acquired in the period; (iii) an increase of R$21.2 million in sales and marketing, from R$18.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to R$39.5
million for the year ended December 31, 2021, also mostly related to advertising expenses of companies acquired in the period; and (iv) an increase of R$102.8 million in payroll
expenses, from R$130.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to R$233.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Operating income
For the reasons discussed above, operating income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$440.9 million, an increase of R$77.6 million, or 21.3%, from R$363.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 2020.
Finance result
Finance result for the year ended December 31, 2021 was a net finance expense of R$179.2 million, compared to a net finance expense of R$36.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2020, for the reasons described below.
Finance income. Finance income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$64.6 million, an increase of R$2.3 million, from R$62.3 million for the year ended December 31,
2020. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in interest received of R$11.2 million (ii) an increase in income from financial investments of R$11.3 million, and (iii) no
amount in 2021 related to changes in fair value of derivative instruments, since the Company did not have any derivative instruments in 2021, compared to a decrease of R$20.7
million in 2020 related to changes in fair value of derivative instruments.
Finance expenses. Finance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$243.8 million, an increase of R$145.5 million, from R$98.3 million for the year ended December
31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in interest expenses on lease liabilities of R$22.8 million, as a result of the companies acquired and new lease
agreements in the period (ii) an increase in interest expense of R$82.9 million mainly by net debt resulting from the acquisitions in 2021 (accounts payable to selling shareholders,
loans and financing, including perpetual convertible preferred shares); and (iii) an increase in foreign exchange loss of R$13.3 million in 2021, as a result of adverse foreign
exchange impacts on our cash and banks in the period.
Income before income taxes
As a result of the foregoing, income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$273.5 million, a decrease of R$61.5 million, or 18.4%, from R$335.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Income taxes expenses
Income taxes expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$31.2 million, an increase of R$4.1 million, from R$27.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our
effective tax rate increased from 8.1% for the year ended December 31, 2020, to 11.4% for the ended year December 31, 2021. Despite our PROUNI incentives, this increase was
primarily attributable to: (i) the increase of R$2.0 million in our taxable income as a result of the positive impact of our organic growth; (ii) the consolidation of the results of
operations of acquired companies in 2021 (iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Shosp, UNIFIPMoc, Unigranrio and RX Pro) during the course of 2021, resulting in an
increase in income tax expense of R$2.1 million in the period; and (iii) presumed profit (lucro presumido) taxation regime applicable to Medcel and PEBMED.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, our net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was R$242.3 million, a decrease of R$65.6 million, or 21.3%, from R$307.9 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with IFRS. In preparing our audited consolidated financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and
estimates that can have a significant impact on amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical
experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions. We regularly reevaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates. Our significant accounting policies are described in note 2 and our critical
accounting estimates and assumptions are described in note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The new amendments and interpretations that were applied for the first time in 2022 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2022, we had R$1,093 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe that our current available cash and cash equivalents and the cash flows from our
operating activities will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements and capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business for the next 12 months. Future cash needs
in the short and long term will be funded by our operating cash flow and from funds raised in the debt or equity capital markets.
The following table shows the historical cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020:
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
(in R$ millions)
Cash Flow Data
Net cash flows from operating activities
843.9
630.9
371.5
Net cash flows used in investing activities
(591.5)
(1,274.1)
(1,042.8)
Net cash flows from financing activities
92.9
364.7
756.4
Operating Activities
We had net cash flows from operating activities of R$843.9 million in 2022, as compared to R$630.9 million in 2021, mainly due to the maturation of medical seats, an increase in
the average ticket of medical programs and consolidation of acquisitions of medical schools and digital services. The main variations in our operating assets and liabilities were: (i)
a growth in our operation result from R$273.4 million as of December 31, 2021 to R$428.3 million as of December 31, 2022, which, in turn, led to an increase in trade receivables from
R$79.7 million as of December 31, 2022 to R$129.1 million as of December 31, 2021, which was affected by a growth of our revenue from R$1,719.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021 to R$2,329.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, mainly due to better economic environment in our locations and acquisitions.
Investing Activities
We had net cash flows used in investing activities of R$591.5 million in 2022, as compared to net cash flows used in investing activities of R$1,274.0 million in 2021. The main
variations in our investing activities were: (i) a decrease of acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired, of R$715.9 million from R$1,017.1 million to R$301.2 million as result of
the relevance of consideration transferred for the acquired entities in 2021 compared to the acquired entities in 2022; and (ii) decrease in acquisition of intangible assets from
R$150.9 million as of December 31, 2021 to R$128.9 million as of December 31, 2022 related to the Garanhuns acquisition and educational platform/software development.
Financing Activities
We had net cash flows from financing activities of R$92.9 million in 2022, as compared to R$364.7 million in 2021, mainly due to a decrease of R$312.7 million in new loans
contracted in 2022 when compared to 2021.
For a discussion of changes in our consolidated cash flows in the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, see our annual report on
Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2022.
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Liquidity
Our management has responsibility for monitoring liquidity risk. In order to achieve the Company’s objective, our management regularly reviews the risk and maintains
appropriate reserves, including bank credit facilities with first tier financial institutions. Our management also continuously monitors projected and actual cash flows and the
combination of the maturity profiles of the financial assets and liabilities.
The main requirements for financial resources used by the Company arise from the need to make payments for suppliers, operating expenses, labor and social obligations,
loans and financing and accounts payable to selling shareholders.
Our total liquidity, which we calculate as the sum of cash and cash equivalents, increased by 46%, from R$748.6 million as of December 31, 2021 to R$1,093.1 million as of
December 31, 2022.
Indebtedness
As of December 31, 2022, we had outstanding debt, comprised of our loans and financings, in the aggregate amount of R$1,882.9 million. The following table summarizes our
loans and financings as of December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Financial institution
Currency
Interest rate
Maturity
2022
2021
(in R$ thousands)
Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A.
Brazilian real
CDI + 1.90% p.y.
2025
518,134
510,972
FINEP
Brazilian real
TJLP p.y.
2027
8,418
10,145
Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A.
Brazilian real
CDI + 1.75% p.y.
2024
32,252
31,199
Softbank
Brazilian real
6.5% p.y.
2026
824,258
822,560
Debentures
Brazilian real
CDI + 1.80% p.y.
2028
499,839
—
Total Loans and Financing
1,882,901
1,374,876
Current
145,202
128,720
Non-current
1,737,699
1,246,156
Loans
On October 1, 2020 (as amended on September 28, 2022), Afya Brazil entered into a loan with Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A. in the principal amount of R$500.0 million. The loan
incurs interest at the CDI rate plus 1.62% per year, through September 28, 2022, and 1.90% per year, as of September 28, 2022. The loan is repayable in three installments in October
2023, April 2024 and October 2025.
On July 23, 2019, Medcel entered into a loan of R$16.2 million with Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos ("FINEP”), a governmental agency focused on financing investments on
R&D, which has an interest rate based on TJLP (Long term interest rate), and maturity in 2027. The first and second tranches of R$6.7 million and R$4.1 million, respectively, were
drawn down in October 2019 and December 2020, respectively, in order to develop the Medical web series and other digital content. There are no financial covenants under this
agreement. The total loan balance is guaranteed by a bank warranty.
On October 28, 2020, UNIFIPmoc entered into a loan with Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A. in the amount of R$30.0 million. On June 30, 2021 this agreement was amended and is now
adjusted by the CDI rate plus an interest rate of 1.75% per year and is repayable in three installments in July 2023, January 2024 and July 2024.
Debentures
On December 16, 2022, Afya announced the closing of the issuance, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Afya Brazil, of 500,000 simple, non-convertible, unsecured
debentures in a single series, each with a par value of R$1.00, totaling an aggregate amount of R$500.0 million, by means of a public distribution with restricted placement efforts in
the Brazilian market, under the terms of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários) Rule No. 476. Afya expects to use the proceeds of
the offering for general corporate purposes, strengthening its cash position, and extending its debt maturity profile. The debentures were issued with a maturity date of January 15,
2028, with the principal to be amortized in two equal installments payable on January 15, 2027 and January 15, 2028, corresponding to the fourth and fifth years of the transaction,
respectively. The debentures bear interest at 100% of the CDI rate plus 1.80% per year, payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, until the maturity date.
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The debentures are subject to certain obligations including financial covenants. Under the terms of the debentures, we are required to maintain a net debt (excluding our Series
A perpetual convertible preferred shares and our lease liabilities) to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below or equal to 3.0x, as of the end of each fiscal year, until the maturity date.
Adjusted EBITDA considers, for purposes of this ratio, is calculated as net income plus (i) income taxes expenses, (ii) net financial result (excluding interest expenses on lease
liabilities), (iii) depreciation and amortization expenses (excluding right-of-use depreciation expenses), (iv) share-based compensation expenses, (v) share of income of associate,
(vi) interest received and (vii) non-recurring expenses. As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all obligations set forth under the terms of the debentures.
Series A Perpetual Convertible Shares
On April 26, 2021, the Company issued and sold 150,000 shares of perpetual convertible preferred shares designated as Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, with a
par value of U.S.$0.00005 per share of the Company for US$150.0 million, equivalent to R$821.8 million, on the issuance date. The Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares is
a class of equity security that ranks senior to the common shares with respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation.
Each Series A perpetual convertible preferred share is entitled to a cash dividend of 6.5% per annum and is convertible, at the holder’s discretion, into the Company’s Class A
common shares at an initial conversion price of US$25.35. The Company may require the conversion of any or all of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares at any time
on or after the three-year anniversary of the original issuance date if certain conditions set forth in the certificate of designation are met (if for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days
prior, Afya’s stock price is equal or above 150% of the conversion rate). The Company may also redeem any or all of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares for cash,
shares of its common shares or a combination thereof at its election, at any time on or after the seven-year anniversary of the original issuance date as determined in the certificate
of designation. On or after the five-year anniversary of the original issuance date, the holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares shall have the right to redeem
all of the outstanding Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares for cash, the Company’s common shares or a combination thereof (at the Company’s election, subject to
certain conditions) to be determined in the certificate of designation. Upon the occurrence of a change of control, the holders will have the right to redeem their Series A perpetual
convertible preferred shares for cash at a price set forth in the certificate of designation. The Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares will be entitled to the same voting
rights as the common shares only when converted into common shares.
The Company determined that the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares should be classified as a financial liability at amortized cost upon their issuance since they
are redeemable primarily according to the decision of the holder and there is a contractual obligation to deliver assets (cash, common shares or a combination thereof) that could
not be avoided by the Company in an event of redemption. The financial liability is denominated in Brazilian Reais and thus not subject to foreign exchange changes. In addition,
as the entire instrument is classified as a liability, the embedded put option to redeem the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares for cash is an embedded derivative. The
embedded derivative will not be treated separately once the exercise price of the option is closely related to the host contract.
The initial transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares were measured at fair value together with the
financial liability on initial measurement. The transaction costs totaled R$13.0 million, including legal counsels and advisors.
For further information on our loans and financing, see note 13.2.1 to the audited consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this annual report.
Share Buyback Program
For further information on our share buyback program, see note 17 (e) to the audited consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this annual report, Exhibit 2.1,
"Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Exchange Act - Share Repurchases” and "Item 16E. Purchases Of Equity Securities By The Issuer And Affiliated
Purchasers.”
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Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The following is a summary of our contractual obligations, based on contractual undiscounted amounts, as of December 31, 2022:
Payments Due by Period as of December 31, 2022
Total
Less than
1 year
1 – 3 years
3 – 5 years
More than
5 years
(in R$ thousands)
Trade payables
71,482
71,482
—
—
—
Loans and financing (1)
2,313,530
287,741
788,190
1,237,599
—
Lease liabilities
1,711,092
117,506
234,688
219,127
1,139,771
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
621,762
282,481
339,281
—
—
Notes payable
62,176
62,176
—
—
—
Advances from customers
133,050
133,050
—
—
—
Total
4,913,092
954,436
1,362,159
1,456,726
1,139,771
(1) Loans and financing includes the obligations related to our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares discussed in note 13.2.1(d) to our audited consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Future cash needs in the short and long term will be funded by our operating cash flow and from proceeds raised in the debt or equity capital markets.
As of December 31, 2022, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Principal Capital Expenditures
We made capital expenditures (consisting of purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets) of R$297.0 million, R$276.8 million and R$137.6 million in 2022, 2021
and 2020, respectively. During these years, our capital expenditures mainly included expenditures related to the expansion and maintenance of our campuses and headquarters
including leasehold improvements, the integration of our acquisitions, the implementation of our shared services center, and the development of the project that led to the
certification of seven new greenfield medical schools as part of the "Mais Médicos” program.
For 2023, we have budgeted capital expenditures of R$225.6 million, mostly to support the growth in our business and operations. We expect to meet our capital expenditure
needs for the foreseeable future from our operating cash flow and our existing cash and cash equivalents. Our future capital requirements may be adjusted from time to time as they
depend on several factors, including our growth rate, the expansion of our research and development efforts, employee headcount, marketing and sales activities, the introduction
of new features to our existing products, the continued market acceptance of our products. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business
and Industry—Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business.”
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses
As of the date of this annual report, we had no issued patents and one patent application pending in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, we are party to 337 agreements, with
third-party authors with respect to educational content. As of December 31, 2022, we owned 299 trademark registrations in Brazil, and we have also sought to register six
trademarks abroad, in the United States and in the European Union. As of the date of this annual report, we have 129 pending trademark applications in Brazil and unregistered
trademarks that we use to promote our brand, and also own 297 registered domain names in Brazil.
See "Item 4. Information on the Company—D. Property, plant and equipment—Technology and Intellectual Property.”
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D. Trend Information
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 20, 2020 the Brazilian federal government declared a national emergency with
respect to COVID-19. The impact on our operations still is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. The spread of COVID-19, or actions taken to mitigate this
spread, could have material and adverse effects on our ability to operate effectively, including as a result of the complete or partial closure of facilities or labor shortages. The
extent of the adverse impact on our operations, including, among others, the regular functioning of our facilities, will depend on the extent and severity of the continued spread of
the coronavirus in Brazil. Since March 17, 2020, there has been an interruption of our on-campus activities in light of authorities imposed lockdowns, with a significant portion of
our non-practical educational activities being temporarily offered through our online platform (rather than on-site) and the calendar of our practical educational activities being
rescheduled to when authorities allow on-campus activities to resume. By the date of issuance of this annual report, all of the lockdown restrictions have been revoked by Brazilian
authorities in our campus locations and we have also successfully resumed all of our practical classes in medicines courses and all of our classroom classes.
For further information "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics,
such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business.”
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any other trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the year ended December 31,
2022 that are reasonably likely to have a material and adverse effect on our revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial
information to be not necessarily indicative of future results of operations or financial conditions.
E. Critical Accounting Estimates
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
We are managed by our board of directors and by our senior management, pursuant to our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Cayman
Islands Companies Act (As Revised).
Board of Directors
Our board of directors is currently composed of 10 members. Each of our director shall hold office for a two (2) year term and are eligible for re-election. Under our Amended
and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association: (i) Bertelsmann, for so long as it holds a number of our Class B common shares in excess of 10% of the total number of
outstanding Class B common shares (referred to herein as the "Ownership Threshold”), shall be entitled to appoint, at its sole discretion, up to seven of our directors, and shall be
entitled at any time to remove, substitute or replace any of its appointed directors for any reason in its sole discretion; (ii) the Esteves Family, for so long as it holds our Class B
common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold, shall be entitled to appoint, at its sole discretion, up to two of our directors, and shall be entitled at any time to remove,
substitute or replace any of its appointed directors for any reason in its sole discretion; and (iii) Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family, for so long as they hold our Class B common
shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold shall be entitled to jointly appoint, at their sole discretion, up to one (1) director and shall be entitled at any time to remove, substitute
or replace their appointed director for any reason in their sole discretion (provided that if only one of Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family holds Class B common shares in excess
of the Ownership Threshold, then only Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family, as applicable, shall have these rights). Directors appointed by the board of directors hold office until the
next annual general meeting. Our directors do not have a retirement age requirement under our Articles of Association. Subject to the foregoing, the directors shall be elected by an
ordinary resolution of our shareholders, which requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast on the resolution by the shareholders entitled to vote who are
present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting.
The following table lists the current members of our board of directors:
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Name
Age
Position
Nicolau Carvalho Esteves
70 Co-Chairman
Kay Krafft
52 Co-Chairman
Shobhna Mohn
58 Director
Benedikt Dalkmann
38 Director
Tina Krebs
49 Director
Renato Tavares Esteves
35 Director
Maria Tereza Azevedo
41 Director
João Paulo Seibel de Faria
47 Independent Director*
Vanessa Claro Lopes
47 Independent Director*
Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula
61 Independent Director*
*
Member of our Audit Committee. At our annual shareholders’ meeting held on December 9, 2020, Vanessa Claro Lopes, João Paulo Seibel de Faria and Miguel Filisbino Pereira
de Paula were re-elected as independent directors of the Company, each to serve for a two year term. On December 9, 2022, the Board of Directors noted that the mandate of
each of Vanessa Claro Lopes, João Paulo Seibel de Faria and Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula, as independent directors of the Company would shortly expire and approved
the continued appointment of such persons as interim directors to fill such vacancy and hold office as independent directors until the next annual general meeting of the
Company.
The following is a brief summary of the business experience of our directors. Unless otherwise indicated, the current business addresses for our directors is Alameda Oscar
Niemeyer, No. 119, rooms 502, 504, 1,501 and 1,503, Vila da Serra, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Nicolau Carvalho Esteves. Nicolau Carvalho Esteves is co-chairman of our board of directors, a position he has held since May 2022 after having held the position of
chairman since July 2019. He is a qualified orthopedist and has over 25 years of experience in the education industry. He was the chairman of the board of directors of Afya Brazil
from August 2016 to December 2019, when the board of directors of Afya Brazil was extinguished. He is the founding shareholder of the following companies, for which he served
as Chief Executive Officer for the periods indicated (i) ITPAC—Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos S.A. (1999-2016); (ii) ITPAC Porto Nacional—Instituto
Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos Porto S.A. (2008-2016); (iii) IPTAN—Instituto de Ensino Superior Presidente Tancredo de Almeida Neves S.A. (2003-2016) and
(iv) Instituto de Educação Superior do Vale do Parnaíba S.A. (2016-2018). He holds a Medicine degree from Faculdade de Medicina de Barbacena, a master’s degree in Business
Administration from FGV, a master’s degree in Corporate Finance from Fundação Dom Cabral, a master’s degree in Business Administration from FEAD and a Business
Administration degree from AIEC.
Kay Krafft. Kay Krafft is co-chairman of our board of directors, a position he has held since May 2022 after having held the position of director since August 2021. He is the
founding CEO of Bertelsmann Education Group. Until 2014, he was Chief Investment Officer of music rights management company BMG, building up the company from a start-up
to a major player in the music industry through acquisitions as well as the establishment of an international presence. Before joining BMG’s Executive Board, he served as EVP and
global head of M&A at Bertelsmann while implementing major portfolio adjustments during this time. Prior to joining Bertelsmann, Kay Krafft was a partner at professional services
firm Deloitte.
Shobhna Mohn. Shobhna Mohn is a member of our board of directors, a position she has held since August 2021. She is Chief Strategy Officer at Bertelsmann Investments.
Currently, Shobhna is responsible for the strategic design and execution of Bertelsmann’s global VC investment funds in China, India, Brazil, US/Europe as well as investments in
Africa and Southeast Asia. Her focus is on governance, insights, knowledge exchange, identification and steering of long-term strategic holdings. Main target areas of focus are
on growth platforms such as e-commerce services, fintech, logistics, education and health. As a member of the Investment Committees that evaluate and approve Bertelsmann’s
VC investment targets, she has played a key role in the VC investments of over Euro 1.4 billion since 2006 in more than 380 Investments with a current global portfolio of 270
investments. Shobhna is a member of the Bertelsmann Group Management Committee since 2019. She has been at Bertelsmann since 1996 in various roles including Growth
Regions Strategy, Investor Relations, and Venture Capital. She holds Bachelor’s (B.A.) and Master’s degrees (both M.A. and M.Phil) in Mathematics from the Delhi University in
India, and a M.Phil degree in Operations Research/Management Science from Columbia Business School in New York, USA.
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Benedikt Dalkmann. Benedikt Dalkmann is a member of our board of directors, a position he has held since May 2022, in addition to being Chief Financial Officer of
Bertelsmann Education Group. He has played a formative role in developing the Group since its foundation in 2015, including the expansion of Relias into a major player in U.S.
healthcare education through acquisitions, as well as the establishment of an international presence. Before joining the Education Group, Benedikt worked as Director of Strategy
& Investments at Bertelsmann Group. Other experiences include a period in Venture Capital at Holtzbrinck, and in management consulting.
Tina Krebs. Tina Krebs is a member of our board of directors, a position she has held since May 2022, in addition to being the Chief People Officer of Bertelsmann Education
Group and the Chief People Officer at Relias, a Bertelsmann Education Group company. Until 2020, Tina held multiple roles at Relias including VP, Client Care and VP, Integration,
where she helped integrate multiple healthcare technology companies into the Relias portfolio. Before joining Relias, Tina Krebs was a partner at the professional services firm,
ScottMadden Management Consultants.
Renato Tavares Esteves. Renato Tavares Esteves is a member of our board of directors, a position he has held since July 2019. He was a member of the board of directors of
Afya Brazil from August 2016 to December 2019, when the board of directors of Afya Brazil was extinguished. He served as executive officer of the following companies: Instituto
de Educação Superior do Vale do Parnaíba S.A., UNIVAÇO—União Educacional do Vale do Aço S.A., IPTAN—Instituto de Ensino Superior Presidente Tancredo de Almeida
Neves S.A., ITPAC—Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos S.A., and Instituto de Ensino Superior do Piauí S.A.—IESP. He holds a degree in medicine from Faculdade
de Medicina de Barbacena, and a master’s degree in Business Administration and Corporate Finance from FGV.
Maria Tereza Azevedo. Maria Tereza Azevedo is a member of our board of directors, a position she has held since April 2022. She joined Softbank LatAm fund in 2021 as
Investment Director leading the Education industry. Prior to joining Softbank, she was an Executive Director at Santander and Director at UBS Investment Bank leading the TMT
strategy and LatAm Education and the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications teams, respectively. She has extensive experience in helping LatAm companies access the
equity capital markets and holds a master’s degree in Corporate Finance and a bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from IBMEC. Maria Tereza also serves as a board member of
Descomplica and UOL EdTech.
Vanessa Claro Lopes. Vanessa Claro Lopes is a member of our board of directors and an independent member of our audit and ethics committee, positions she has held since
July 2019. She is currently an independent member of the board of directors of Lojas Americanas S.A., member of the fiscal councils of Cosan S.A., Cosan Logística SA and
Comgas S.A., the chairperson of the audit committee at Tegma Logistica S.A., a member of the audit committee at Embraer S.A. and Lojas Americanas S.A. She was formerly the
chairperson of the fiscal council of Via Varejo S.A. from 2014 to 2018, a member of the fiscal council of Terra Santa Agro S.A. from 2016 to 2018, a member of the fiscal council of
Gerdau S.A from 2016 to 2017 and a member of the fiscal councils of Estácio Participações S.A. and Renova Energia S.A. from 2017 to 2019. With over 25 years’ experience in
corporate governance and internal and external audits of large private and listed companies, she started her career in 1995 at PricewaterhouseCoopers in advisory services and was
responsible for the creation of the revenue assurance specialists department in Brazil for the telecoms sector. She was an executive officer and the head of the internal accounting
department of TAM S.A. from 2010 to 2014, an executive officer and the head of the internal accounting department of Globex Utilidades S.A. (Grupo Pão de Açúcar) from 2004 to
2010 and a coordinator and the head of the accounting department of Grupo Telefonica from 2000 to 2004. She holds an MBA from EAESP/FGV, a master’s degree in management
systems from Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), a master’s degree in computer networks from São Judas University, an accounting degree from Universidade Federal
Fluminense (UFF) and a systems analysis degree from FATEC/BS. She was formerly a professor of audit systems and information security at Objetivo University from 1997 to 1998.
João Paulo Seibel de Faria. João Paulo Seibel de Faria is a member of our board of directors and an independent member of our audit and ethics committee, positions he has
held since August 2020. He is currently the CFO of OLX, a position he has held since August 26, 2020. He has more than 25 years of experience in companies like Arthur Andersen
S/C, Ericsson Telecomunicações and Microsoft. He spent 18 years at Microsoft in different leadership roles in Latin America and the U.S. in sales, marketing and in finance,
including his last role as chief financial officer in Brazil. Since October 2019, he has been working as Latin America chief financial officer for Didi Chuxing (China Giant Mobility
Company that owns 99 Tecnologia in Brazil). Mr. Faria holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from FAAP and an Executive MBA from IBMEC Business School (both
in São Paulo). Additionally he holds several executive sessions in leadership, strategy and global business environment from Fundação Dom Cabral, INSEAD and Devry.
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Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula. Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula is a member of our board of directors and an independent member of our audit and ethics committee,
positions he has held since August 2020. He has more than 35 years of experience in human resources in the Brazilian corporate world, holding positions such as senior HR
director of Grupo Pão de Açucar, HR vice president of Estácio Participações, head of organization development at Votorantim Cimentos and HR of Grupo Gerdau. He holds an
MBA degree from USP and a post-grad degree in HR from PUCRS.
Executive Officers
Our executive officers are responsible for the management and representation of our company. We have a strong centralized team led by Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon,
our CEO, with broad experience in the education industry.
The following table lists our current executive officers.
Name
Age
Position
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
47 Chief Executive Officer
Luis André Carpintero Blanco
48 Chief Financial Officer
Lélio de Souza Junior
48 Vice President of Innovation & Digital Services
The following is a brief summary of the business experience of our executive officers. Unless otherwise indicated, the current business addresses for our executive officers is
Alameda Oscar Niemeyer, No 119, rooms 502, 504, 1,501 and 1,503, Vila da Serra, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon. Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon is our Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held since July 2019. He has been the Chief Executive
Officer of Afya Brazil since August 2016. Prior to joining us, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Estácio Participação S.A., from March 2010 to March
2012, and March 2012 to June 2016, respectively. He was also Executive Director of Business Consulting and Education Industry at TOTVS Consulting from October 2007 to
December 2009, and Senior Manager of Business Consulting at Accenture from 2000 to 2007. He holds a degree in economics from PUC-RJ. He is currently a board member of
EABH—Escola Americana of Belo Horizonte.
Luis André Blanco. Luis André Blanco is our Chief Financial Officer, a position he has held since April 2020. Prior to joining us, he served as CFO for OdontoPrev for 10 years,
where he oversaw corporate finance – treasury, financial planning, M&A, tax and accounting operations, legal and compliance. Prior to that, Luis served as a Financial Officer at
Vivo S.A from 2003 to 2009 and also as CFO at Tele Centro – Oeste Celular Participações from 2000 to 2003. Luis holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro and an executive program degree from University of Westminster, London, England.
Lélio de Souza Junior. Lélio de Souza Junior is our Vice President of Innovation & Digital Services, a position he has held since January 2022. Prior to joining us, he served as
CEO for Intelie for 5 years, where he had the chance to support the internationalization of the company, the acquisition process by RigNet (later on acquired by Viasat, NASDAQ:
VSAT) and to experience a very well succeeded growth history. Prior to that, Lelio served as a Corporate Officer at TOTVS from 2008 – 2016 and also as Senior Manager in
Accenture from 2000-2008. Lelio holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and executive programs degrees from
University of Wharton, Pennsylvania, USA and Insper, São Paulo, Brazil.
Family Relationships
Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, the co-chairman of our board of directors, is the father of Renato Tavares Esteves, one of our directors.
Legal Proceedings
In 2016, the federal prosecutors’ office filed a public civil proceeding against Mr. Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, our co-chairman, and certain other individuals, for irregular
administrative acts alleged to have taken place during each of their respective terms as Health Secretary of the State of Tocantins (Secretário de Saúde do Estado de Tocantins)
between 2012 and 2014, a position held by Mr. Carvalho Esteves for a period of four months, from March 9, 2012 to July 20, 2012. The prosecution alleges that Mr. Carvalho
Esteves and the other individuals did not apply federal funds in compliance with mandatory budgeting rules required by applicable federal statutes. On September 19, 2017, the
lower court dismissed the federal prosecutor’s claims on the basis that the alleged improper acts were carried out to allow the public healthcare system in the State of Tocantins to
continue to provide basic healthcare services, given there were insufficient public funds allocated for that purpose at the time. The federal prosecutor’s office appealed the lower
court’s decision and on October 30, 2018, the federal court of appeals granted the appeal to overturn the lower court’s decision and to nullify the evidentiary phase of the
proceedings on the procedural technicality that the State of Tocantins had not been properly notified of its right to file its motion on evidence. On May 3, 2019, Mr. Carvalho
Esteves filed an appeal of the federal court of appeals decision with the Supreme Court of Justice. In February 2022, a decision was issued, dismissing the motions submitted by the
public prosecutor’s office, and to date no appeal has been filed by the public prosecutor’s office. The risk of loss in these proceedings is classified as remote by external counsel. If
Mr. Carvalho Esteves is found liable, he may be subject to penalties, including a three-year prohibition on him or any legal entity under his control transacting with public entities
or being granted tax incentives/benefits, including Afya.
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B. Compensation
Under Cayman Islands law, we are not required to disclose compensation paid to our senior management on an individual basis and we have not otherwise publicly disclosed
this information elsewhere.
Our executive officers, directors and management receive fixed and variable compensation. They also receive benefits in line with market practice in Brazil. The fixed
component of their compensation is set on market terms and adjusted annually.
The variable component consists of cash bonuses and awards of shares (or the cash equivalent). Cash bonuses or paid to executive officers and members of our management
based on previously agreed targets for the business. Shares (or the cash equivalent) are awarded under our share options long-term incentive program, as discussed below.
The following table sets forth the fixed and variable compensation of our key management personnel for the periods indicated:
For the Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
(in R$ millions)
Short-term employee benefits
13.6
11.9
9.6
Share-based compensation plans
13.1
20.3
24.0
Total compensation
26.7
32.2
33.6
Long-Term Incentive Plans
Afya Brazil Long-Term Incentive Plan
Certain members of our management participated in the share option long-term incentive program, or the LTIP, of Afya Brazil. Beneficiaries under the LTIP were granted rights
to buy shares based on certain criteria. All unvested share options were automatically vested upon the consummation of our initial public offering, and the LTIP was terminated on
January 10, 2020.
New Afya Long-Term Incentive Plan
On August 30, 2019, our board of directors approved the establishment of the new equity incentive plan, or the New LTIP, as amended on July 29, 2020, with the purpose of
advancing the interests of our shareholders by enhancing our ability to attract, retain and motivate individuals to perform at the highest level.
The New LTIP and the applicable option agreement to be entered into between us and the beneficiary, or the Option Agreement, governs the issuance of equity incentive
awards with respect to our Class A common shares, or the Options. The calculation of the strike price of the Option will be set forth in the applicable Option Agreement, as
approved by the board of directors, upon the granting of the Option to the beneficiary. If a beneficiary is dismissed by us, resigns, retires or dies, the portion of his or her Options
under the New LTIP that has vested at that date will be satisfied, but the non-vested portion will be canceled. If a beneficiary is terminated for cause, all of his or her Options under
the New LTIP will be canceled. The maximum aggregate number of shares that can be issued to beneficiaries under the New LTIP may not exceed 4% of our share capital at any
time, excluding treasury shares.
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On July 8, 2022, our people and ESG committee approved a change in the strike price of the current share-based compensation plan. All tranches still to be vested had their
strike price modified compared to the IPO price in Brazilian reais (R$71.22), adjusted from the IPO date until the exercise date using the CDI rate, excluding dividends. The already
vested tranches will remain on the previous settled strike price. On May 18, 2022, July 11, 2022 and September 14, 2022, the Company granted 1,234,919 additional stock options,
respectively, at a strike price of R$70.00, R$52.00 and R$52.00, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, a total of 3,729,287 options are outstanding under the New LTIP. For further
information about vesting periods and strike price, see note 16.b to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Restricted Stock Units Program
On July 8, 2022, our board of directors approved our new restricted stock units program, or the RSU program, for employees. The participant’s right to effectively receive
ownership of restricted shares will be conditioned on the participant’s continuance as an employee or director in the business group from the grant date until vesting. Employees
will be entitled to these shares in a proportion of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% each year. In July 2022 and September 2022, 442,546 and 4,678 restricted shares were granted,
respectively, to our executives, with vesting periods from May 2023 to May 2026. The total number of outstanding restricted shares subject to the RSU program will not exceed, on
any date, 1.2% of the total number of our shares, excluding treasury shares.
C. Board Practices
Duties of Directors
As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is considered a fiduciary of the company. Accordingly, directors owe fiduciary duties to their
companies to act in accordance with the best interests of the company, to exercise their powers for the purposes for which they are conferred and not to place themselves in a
position where there is a conflict between their personal interests and their duty to the company. Accordingly, a director owes a company a duty not to make a profit based on his
or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so) and a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with
his or her personal interests or his or her duties to a third party.
However, a company’s articles of association may permit a director to vote on a matter in which he or she has a personal interest if he or she has disclosed the nature of his or
her interest to the board of directors. Our Articles of Association provide that a director must disclose the nature and extent of any material interests in any contract or
arrangement, and that he or she may vote at any meeting on any resolution concerning an interested matter, provided he or she has disclosed the nature of his or her interest and
has not been disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting.
A director of a Cayman Islands company also owes to the company duties to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her functions and to exercise reasonable
skill, care and diligence, which has both objective and subjective elements. Recent Cayman Islands case law confirmed that directors must exercise the care, skill and diligence that
would be exercised by a reasonably diligent person having the general knowledge, skill and experience reasonably to be expected of a person acting as a director. Additionally, a
director must exercise the knowledge, skill and experience that he or she actually possesses.
Election and Terms of Directors
See "Item 10. Additional Information.—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Appointment, Disqualification and Removal of Directors.”
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Board Committees
Our board of directors has established an audit, risks and ethics committee and a compensation committee. On May 5, 2022, our board of directors voted to dissolve our
business expansion committee, such that the approval of any mergers and acquisitions, which was previously within the purview of the business expansion committee, will now be
submitted to the board of directors itself. In the future, our board of directors may establish other committees, as it deems appropriate, to assist with its responsibilities.
Audit, Risks and Ethics Committee
The audit, risks and ethics committee, or the audit committee, which consists of Vanessa Claro Lopes (elected to the committee on July 8, 2019), João Paulo Seibel de Faria
(elected to the committee on August 26, 2020) and Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula (elected to the committee on August 26, 2020) assists our board of directors in overseeing our
accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. In addition, the audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation,
retention and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. João Paulo Seibel de Faria serves as chairman of the audit committee. The audit
committee consists exclusively of members of our supervisory board who are financially literate, and Vanessa Claro Lopes is considered an "audit committee financial expert” as
defined by the SEC. Our board of directors has determined that Vanessa Claro Lopes, João Paulo Seibel de Faria and Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula satisfy the "independence”
requirements set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
On January 29, 2021, our board of directors approved the audit committee charter. The audit committee complies with applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary established in the audit committee charter, the audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
·
the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of any auditor or accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing
other audit, review or attest services;
·
pre-approval of the audit services and non-audit services to be provided by our independent auditor before the auditor is engaged to render such services;
·
review and discussions with the independent auditor its responsibilities under generally accepted auditing standards, the planned scope and timing of the independent
auditor’s annual audit plan(s) and significant findings from the audit;
·
obtaining and review of a report from the independent auditor describing all relationships between the independent auditor and the Company consistent with the
applicable PCAOB requirements regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence;
·
confirming and evaluating the rotation of the audit partners on the audit engagement team as required by law;
·
review with management and the independent auditor, in separate meetings whenever the audit committee deems appropriate, any analyses or other written
communications prepared by the management and/or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with
the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative IFRS methods on the financial statements; and other critical accounting policies
and practices of the Company;
·
review, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control
over financial reporting;
·
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; and
·
approving or ratifying any related person transaction (as defined in our related person transaction policy) in accordance with our related person transaction policy.
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The audit committee meets as often as it determines is appropriate to carry out its responsibilities, but in any event, pursuant to its charter, the audit committee ordinarily
meets at least six times per year.
Information contained on our website shall not constitute, or be deemed incorporated as, a part of this annual report.
In addition, our audit committee monitors ongoing compliance with our code of ethics and related compliance policies.
People and ESG Committee
Since our initial public offering, we have established a compensation committee. The compensation committee, which consists of Rafael Munerato de Almeida, Renato Tavares
Esteves and Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula, assists our board of directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating
to our directors and executive officers. On January 29, 2021, our board of directors approved the compensation committee charter and included the responsibility for the committee
to indicate and recommend for board approval the appointment of our independent directors, directors and executive officer. On May 26, 2021 our board of directors approved the
amendment of the internal bylaws of the compensation committee to change its name to People and ESG Committee and also to include strategic sustainability matters and approve
reports, adhere to national and/or international protocols, agreements, principles or treaties to be discussed and recommended by the committee. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary established in the audit committee charter, the committee also reviews the total compensation package for our executive officers and directors and recommends to the
board of directors for determination the compensation of each of our directors and executive officers, and will periodically review and approve any long-term incentive
compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses and employee pension and benefits plans. As permitted by the listing requirements of Nasdaq,
we have opted out of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(d), which requires that a compensation committee consist entirely of independent directors. On August 25, 2021, the Board of
Directors appointed Mr. Kay Krafft as a member of the People and ESG Committee. On May 5, 2022, our board of directors approved an amendment to the bylaws of our People and
ESG Committee to give full authority to the People and ESG Committee to approve certain matters. On October 6, 2022, the board of directors approved the review of certain aspects
of these bylaws, e.g., to include new responsibilities for the People and ESG Committee related to the review and approval of pension plans, compensation instruments that are not
regulated collectively, and the execution, termination or amendment of certain material and relevant employment agreements.
Board Diversity Matrix
Board Diversity Matrix (as of December 31, 2022)
Country of Principal Executive Offices:
Brazil
Foreign Private Issuer:
Yes (the Cayman Islands)
Disclosure Prohibited under Home Country Law:
No
Total Number of Directors:
11
Female
Male
Non-Binary
Did Not Disclose
Gender
Part I: Gender Identity
Directors:
2
9
0
0
Part II: Demographic Background
Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction:
3
LGBTQ+:
—
Did not Disclose Demographic Background:
8
D. Employees
As of December 31, 2022, we had 8,708 employees, 7% of which were based in our offices in Nova Lima and 93% of which were based in other cities elsewhere in Brazil. We
also engage temporary employees and consultants as needed to support our operations.
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As of December 31, 2022, we (through Medcel) had approximately 167 medical content creators, who are responsible for developing our learning materials (including media,
podcasts, quizzes, classes, among others), including approximately 24 physician professors.
The table below breaks down our full-time personnel by function as of December 31, 2022:
Function
Number of
Employees
% of Total
Management
79
0.9%
Shared Services Center and IT, Sales and Marketing
850
9.8%
Faculties
3,117
35.8%
General and Administrative
4,662
53.5%
Total
8,708
100.0%
Our employees in Brazil are represented by the labor unions of independent sales agents and of consulting, information, research and accounting firms for the geographic area
in which they render services. We believe we have a constructive relationship with these unions, as we have never experienced strikes, work stoppages or disputes leading to any
form of downtime.
E. Share Ownership
For information regarding the share ownership of our directors and senior management, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major
Shareholders.” For information as to stock options or restricted shares granted to our directors, executive officers and other employees, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management
and Employees—B. Compensation—Afya Brazil Long-Term Incentive Plan” and "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Long-Term Incentive
Plans.”
F. Disclosure of a Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
The following table and accompanying footnotes presents information relating to the beneficial ownership of our Class A common shares, our Class B common shares, and
our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares as of the date of this annual report:
·
each person or group of affiliated persons, known by us to own beneficially 5% or more of our outstanding shares;
·
each of our executive officers and directors individually; and
·
all executive officers and directors as a group.
The number of common shares beneficially owned by each entity, person, executive officer or director is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the
information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual has
sole or shared voting power or investment power as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant or
other right. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect
to all common shares held by that person.
Unless otherwise indicated below, the business address for each beneficial owner is c/o Afya, Alameda Oscar Niemeyer, No. 119, rooms 502, 504, 1,501 and 1,503, Vila da Serra,
Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Shares Beneficially Owned
% of Total
Voting Power(1)
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Class A
Class B
Series A
Shareholders
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
%
5% Shareholders Party to our Shareholders’
Agreement
Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA (2)
9,778,591
20.4%
29,074,134
63.5%
—
—
59.4%
Nicolau Carvalho Esteves (3)
113,811
*
16,721,405
36.5%
—
—
33.1%
Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves(3)
113,811
*
16,714,713
36.5%
—
—
33.0%
Renato Tavares Esteves (4)
2,545,844
5.3%
—
—
—
—
0.5%
Vanessa Tavares Esteves (5)
2,435,440
5.1%
—
—
—
—
0.5%
Lílian Tavares Esteves de Carvalho (6)
2,533,911
5.3%
—
—
—
—
0.5%
Other 5% Shareholders
Ronald Baron (7)
3,921,080
8.2%
—
—
—
—
0.8%
SoftBank Group Corp. (8)
2,433,323
5.1%
—
—
150,000
100%
0.5%
Other Executive Officers and Directors (9)
Kay Krafft (10)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Shobhna Mohn (11)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Benedikt Dalkmann(12)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Tina Krebs(13)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
João Paulo Seibel de Faria
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Maria Tereza Azevedo
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Vanessa Claro Lopes
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Rafael Munerato de Almeida
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Lélio de Souza Junior
10,000
*
—
—
—
—
*
Luis André Carpintero Blanco
17,170
*
—
—
—
—
*
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
367,225
*
—
—
—
—
*
*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the respective class of our outstanding shares.
(1) Percentage of total voting power represents voting power with respect to all of our Class A common shares and Class B common shares, as a single class. Holders of our Class B common shares
are entitled to 10 votes per share, whereas holders of our Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share. For more information about the voting rights of our Class A common shares
and Class B common shares, see "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital.” The terms of our Series A perpetual
convertible preferred shares require the approval of a majority of our Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares voting as a separate class for us to take the following decisions, among
others described in the certificate of designations: (1) amend our organizational documents in a manner that would have an adverse effect on the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares;
and (2) issue securities that are senior to, or equal in priority with, the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares; except as provided in the certificate of designations, our Series A perpetual
convertible preferred shares otherwise are not entitled to vote.
(2) Based on a statement by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Erste WV Gütersloh GmbH on Schedule 13D filed on March 29, 2023, the date of the last available Schedule 13D filed by such
person with the SEC. Such person’s business address is at Carl-Bertelsmann-Strasse 270, 33311 Gütersloh, Germany.
(3) Based on a statement by Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves and NRE Capital Ventures Limited on Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2023, the date of the last
available Schedule 13G filed by such person with the SEC. Nicolau Carvalho Esteves is a member of our board of directors. Includes 113,811 Class A common shares and 16,707,489 Class B
common shares held of record by NRE Capital Ventures Limited, a company controlled by Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves, who hold 100% of its shares in
joint tenancy.
(4) Based on a statement by Renato Tavares Esteves on Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2022, the date of the last available Schedule 13G filed by such person with the SEC. Renato Tavares
Esteves is a member of our board of directors.
(5) Based on a statement by Vanessa Tavares Esteves and VTE Capital Ventures Ltd. on Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2023, the date of the last available Schedule 13G filed by such person
with the SEC. Consists of 654,643 Class A common shares held of record by Vanessa Tavares Esteves and 1,780,797 Class A common shares held of record by VTE Capital Ventures Ltd.,
which is wholly-owned by Vanessa Tavares Esteves.
(6) Based on a statement by Lilian Tavares Esteves de Carvalho on Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2022, the date of the last available Schedule 13G filed by such person with the SEC.
(7) Based on a statement on Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2023, by BAMCO, Inc., Baron Capital Group, Inc., Baron Capital Management, Inc., and Ronald Baron, the date of the last
available Schedule 13G by such persons with the SEC. Such persons’ business address is 767 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10153.
(8) Based on a statement on Schedule 13G filed on May 13, 2021 by SoftBank Group Corp. the date of the last available Schedule 13G by such person with the SEC. Such person’s business
address is 1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-7537 Japan.
(9) Disclosure regarding the equity interest held by Messrs. Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and Renato Tavares Esteves, both members of our board of directors, in us, is above.
(10) Mr. Kay Krafft, a member of our board of directors, is the founding CEO of Bertelsmann Education Group. Mr. Krafft disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Bertelsmann except
to the extent, if any, of his pecuniary interest therein.
(11) Ms. Shobhna Mohn, a member of our board of directors, is the Chief Strategy Officer at Bertelsmann Investments. Ms. Mohn disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Bertelsmann
except to the extent, if any, of her pecuniary interest therein.
(12) Mr. Benedikt Dalkmann, a member of our board of directors, is the Chief Financial Officer at Bertelsmann Education Group. Mr. Dalkmann disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
Bertelsmann except to the extent, if any, of his pecuniary interest therein.
(13) Ms. Tina Krebs, a member of our board of directors, is the Chief People Officer at Bertelsmann Investments. Ms. Krebs disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Bertelsmann except
to the extent, if any, of her pecuniary interest therein.
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The holders of our Class A common shares and Class B common shares have identical rights, except that the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann as holders of Class B common
shares (i) are entitled to 10 votes per share, whereas holders of our Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share, (ii) have certain conversion rights and (iii) are entitled
to maintain a proportional ownership interest by purchasing additional Class B common shares in the event that additional Class A common shares are issued. For more
information see "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital—Preemptive or Similar Rights” and "Item 10.
Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Share Capital—Conversion.” Each Class B common share is convertible into one Class A
common share.
We are not aware of any other shareholder that beneficially owns more than 5% of our common shares nor of any arrangements the operation of which may at a subsequent
date result in a change of control of the company.
Shareholders’ Agreement
On July 7, 2019, Crescera and the Esteves Family entered into a shareholders’ agreement, or the Original Shareholders’ Agreement. The Original Shareholders’ Agreement
specified that Crescera could not transfer its shares in the Company, in whole or in part, without first offering them to Bertelsmann, which will have the option to acquire such
shares. On June 7, 2021, in connection with the acquisition by Bertelsmann of all Afya shares held by Crescera as of such date pursuant to a share purchase agreement also
entered into on such date, the Original Shareholders’ Agreement was terminated and the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann determined to enter into an amended and restated
shareholders’ agreement, or the A&R Shareholders’ Agreement.
The A&R Shareholders’ Agreement provides that the parties shall cooperate to ensure that Afya enters into a customary registration rights agreement with the parties.
Further, (i) while Bertelsmann holds an interest in Afya, or (ii) for a period of 5 (five) years from the moment the Original Shareholder ceases to hold an interest in the Company
(whichever occurs earlier), the Esteves Family is bound by a non-compete obligation preventing it from directly or indirectly carrying on a competing business that is in direct
competition with us, subject to certain limited exceptions.
B. Related Party Transactions
In addition to the compensation arrangements with directors and executive officers described under "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B.
Compensation” and certain other rights of certain of the holders of our common shares as described under "—A. Major Shareholders—Shareholders’ Agreement,” the following is
a description of each transaction since January 1, 2020 and each currently proposed transaction in which the amount involved in the transactions is material to us and any related
party.
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Lease Agreements
Lease agreements with RVL Esteves Gestão Imobiliária S.A.
Afya Brazil has entered into lease agreements with RVL Esteves Gestão Imobiliária S.A. ("RVL”), an entity controlled by the shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and of
which Mr. Renato Esteves is an executive officer, as described below.
On June 21, 2016, RVL entered into lease agreements (as amended on April 26, 2018) with ITPAC Araguaína and ITPAC Porto Nacional, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease
campuses to those entities in the cities of Araguaína and Porto Nacional, both located in the State of Tocantins. The lease agreements are adjustable in accordance with the
provisions of each lease agreement. The lease agreements are for an initial term of 20 years, and are renewable for an additional 20 years subject to the provisions of each lease
agreement.
On November 1, 2016, RVL entered into a lease agreement with Afya Brazil, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to Afya Brazil certain offices located in the city of Nova
Lima, State of Minas Gerais, where Afya Brazil’s principal executive offices are located. On February 9, 2019, the agreement was amended to extend lease terms and adjust the lease
amounts, subject to certain discount conditions set forth in the lease agreement and adjustable in accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is
for an initial term of five years, and may be renewable for an additional five years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement.
On September 6, 2018, RVL entered into a lease agreement with ITPAC Araguaína, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to ITPAC the new ITPAC campus by RVL in the city
of Palmas, State of Tocantins. The lease agreement is for an amount equal to 7.5% of the monthly revenue of ITPAC during the prior semester, and will be effective (and become
due) once the new ITPAC campus becomes operational, subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 20 years and is renewable for
an additional 20 years. As of December 31, 2022, the campus is fully operational.
On October 30, 2019, RVL entered into a lease agreement with IPTAN, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to IPTAN the new IPTAN medical campus, currently under
construction by RVL in the city of Santa Inês, State of Maranhão. The lease agreement is for a monthly amount equal to (i) up to June 2020, R$12 and (ii) from July 2020 until March
2024, 6.5% of the monthly revenue of IPTAN during the prior semester, in each case adjustable in accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is for
an initial term of five years starting when the campus becomes operational, and may be renewable for an additional five years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. As
of December 31, 2022, the campus is fully operational.
On August 2, 2021, RVL entered into a lease agreement with ITPAC Araguaína, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to ITPAC the new ITPAC Garanhuns medical campus,
in the city of Garanhuns, State of Pernambuco. The lease agreement is for a monthly amount equal to (i) up to June 2022, R$40; (ii) from July 2022 until December 2028, 6.5% of the
monthly revenue of ITPAC Garanhuns during the prior semester, in each case adjustable in accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement; and (iii) as from January 2029,
the monthly amount should be adjusted by the inflation rate (IPCA). The lease agreement is for a term of 20 years.
The lease payments in connection with the lease agreements with RVL totaled R$20.4 million, R$15.3 million and R$11.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and
2020, respectively.
Lease agreement with UNIVAÇO Patrimonial Ltda.
On July 14, 2016, UNIVAÇO Patrimonial Ltda., an entity controlled by the shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and of which Ms. Rosângela Esteves is the chief executive
officer, entered into a lease agreement with UNIVAÇO, a subsidiary of Afya Brazil, pursuant to which UNIVAÇO Patrimonial Ltda. agreed to lease the UNIVAÇO campus to
UNIVAÇO, located in the city of Ipatinga, State of Minas Gerais. The lease agreement is adjustable in accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement
is for an initial term of 20 years, and is renewable for an additional 20 years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease payments in connection with this lease
agreement totaled R$3.4 million, R$3.2 million and R$3.0 million in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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Lease agreement with IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda.
On April 25, 2018, IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda., an entity controlled by the shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and of which Mr. Renato Esteves is an executive officer, entered
into a lease agreement with IESVAP, a subsidiary of Afya Brazil, pursuant to which IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda. agreed to lease the IESVAP campus to IESVAP located in the city of
Parnaíba, State of Piauí. The lease agreement is for an amount equal to 7.5% of the monthly revenue of IESVAP until maturation. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 20
years, and is renewable for an additional 20 years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease payments in connection with this lease agreement totaled R$4.9
million, R$4.6 million and R$3.5 million in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
UEPC Services Agreement
On February 25, 2019, Medcel entered into a services agreement with UEPC, pursuant to which Medcel agreed to provide certain educational services and content to UEPC,
available on Medcel’s online platform. The services agreement is for an amount equal to R$1.3 million, payable by UEPC to Medcel subject to the terms of the services agreement.
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the revenues in connection with this services agreement totaled R$0.5 million and R$0.8 million, respectively.
See note 8 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
ITPAC Garanhuns Assignment Agreement
On March 28, 2019, our shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves entered into an agreement with Afya Brazil pursuant to which he assigned to Afya Brazil, in connection with a
pending authorization by MEC to operate a medical school, the right to develop the ITPAC Garanhuns greenfield unit, a medical school in the city of Garanhuns, State of
Pernambuco. The consummation of the assignment is subject to the approval of the ITPAC Garanhuns medical school authorization by MEC, which must be obtained within 10
years from the execution of the assignment agreement. The purchase price paid by Afya Brazil to Nicolau Carvalho Esteves to the extent MEC’s approval is obtained within the
prescribed time period is R$900,000 multiplied by the number of medical school seats authorized by MEC. Once operational, ITPAC Garanhuns is expect to generate 120 new
medical school seats. In 2008, two public civil proceedings were filed by the Brazilian federal government and the federal public prosecutor for the suspension of the activities of
the Garanhuns Greenfield unit, claiming that the status of the Garanhuns Greenfield unit with the MEC was irregular. On November 5, 2021, the Secretary of Regulation and
Supervision of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education ("MEC”) authorized the operation of the medical school in Garanhuns in the State of Pernambuco. ITPAC Garanhuns
authorization guaranteed 120 medical seats to Afya, totaling a purchase price of R$108 million of which: 50% in cash on the transaction closing date and 50% in two equal annual
installments, adjusted by the CDI rate.
See "Item 8. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal and Administrative Proceedings—Civil Matters.”
Related Person Transaction Policy
On January 29, 2021, our board of directors approved the related party transactions and conflicts of interests’ policy that set forth our guidelines and procedures regarding
agreements with related parties. On December 19, 2022, our board of directors approved an amendment to our policy in order to reflect certain revised approval thresholds.
Our related person transaction policy states that related person transactions must be approved or ratified by our executive officers and board of directors. In determining
whether to approve or ratify a transaction with a related person, our executive officers or board of directors will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including without
limitation the commercial reasonableness of the terms, of the transaction the benefit and perceived benefit, or lack thereof, to us, opportunity costs of alternate transaction, the
materiality and character of the related person’s direct or indirect interest and the actual or apparent conflict of interest of the related person.
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Pursuant to the related transaction policy, our executive officers or board of directors will not approve or ratify a related person transaction unless it has determined that, upon
consideration of all relevant information, such transaction is in, or not inconsistent with, our best interests and the best interests of our shareholders.
Indemnification Agreements
We have executed indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements and our Articles of Association require us to
indemnify our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Employment Agreements
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon, Lélio de Souza Junior and Luis André Carpintero Blanco entered into employment agreements with the Company. None of our directors
have entered into service agreements with the Company.
For a description of the compensation paid to our directors and executive officers, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation.”
Long-Term Incentive Plans
See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Afya Brazil Long-Term Incentive Plan.” and "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and
Employees—B. Compensation—Long-Term Incentive Plan.”
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
See Exhibits.
Legal and Administrative Proceedings
From time to time, we are involved in disputes that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, can be time consuming,
result in costly litigation, require significant management time and result in the diversion of significant operational resources.
We and our subsidiaries are subject to a number of judicial and administrative proceedings in the Brazilian court systems, including civil, labor and tax law and social security
claims and other proceedings, which we believe are common and incidental to business operations in Brazil, in general. We recognize provisions for legal proceedings in our
financial statements, when we are advised by independent outside counsel that (i) it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and (ii) a
reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The assessment of the likelihood of loss includes analysis by outside counsel of available evidence, the hierarchy of
laws, available case law, recent court rulings and their relevance in the legal system. Our provisions for probable losses arising from these matters are estimated and periodically
adjusted by management. In making these adjustments our management relies on the opinions of our external legal advisors.
As of December 31, 2022, we had provisions recorded in our audited consolidated financial statements in connection with legal proceedings for which we believe a loss is
probable, in an aggregate amount of R$195.9 million, and had made judicial deposits in an aggregate amount of R$12.7 million. However, legal proceedings are inherently
unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties. If one or more cases were to result in a judgment against us in any reporting period for amounts that exceeded our
management’s expectations, the impact on our operating results or financial condition for that reporting period could be material.
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In addition, under the terms of the share purchase and sale agreements between us and the selling shareholders of certain subsidiaries acquired by us, such selling shareholders
are exclusively responsible for any liabilities (including labor, tax and civil liabilities), which are or will be the subject of a claim by any third party, arising from an act or fact that
occurred, whether by action or inaction, prior to or on the closing dates of the respective acquisitions, and such selling shareholders have agreed to indemnify us and our
subsidiaries in the event of any losses relating to any such contingent liabilities. Accordingly, our provisioned amounts related to such contingent liabilities are recorded as
non-current liabilities, with a corresponding amount recorded as non-current other assets; as of December 31, 2022, we recorded R$145.3 million as other non-current assets with
respect to provisioned amounts relating to such contingent liabilities.
Civil Matters
As of December 31, 2022, we and our subsidiaries were party to approximately 6,965 civil proceedings, 2,953 of which are collection proceedings in which we are plaintiffs,
3,585 of which are other judicial proceedings and 438 of which are administrative proceedings. The civil claims to which we are a party generally relate to consumer claims,
including those related to student complaints. We believe these proceedings are unlikely to have a material adverse impact, individually, or in the aggregate, on our results of
operations or financial condition.
On October 9, 2012, a civil suit was filed by Marly Luzia Bernardes Rocha against ITPAC Porto Nacional and others, alleging (i) that Municipal Law No. 1780/03 in connection
with IESPEN’s creation is unconstitutional, and therefore that IESPEN’s dissolution and assignment of all its contingencies to ITPAC Porto Nacional should be voided; (ii) that
ITPAC Porto Nacional acted in bad faith and failed in its duties to pay for corresponding material damages, loss of profits, loss of opportunity and moral damages; (iii) that Maria
Aurora Pinto Leite e Silva and Celso Eduardo Avelar Freire, shareholders of IESPEN, did not pay up corporate capital; and (iv) that ITPAC Porto Nacional should compensate the
plaintiffs for alleged illicit enrichment in connection with the dissolution. On January 12, 2014, ITPAC filed its defense, which is pending review by the competent lower court. On
November 13, 2016, the lower court froze 8% of ITPAC Porto Nacional’s monthly revenues in favor of the plaintiffs, and the freeze order was overturned on January 12, 2017. We
estimate the amount of any claim for damages that may be imposed on us as a result of these proceedings to be approximately R$25.6 million, with the likelihood of loss as possible.
In 2008, two public civil proceedings were filed by the Brazilian federal government and the federal public prosecutor for the suspension of the activities of the Garanhuns
Greenfield unit, claiming that the status of the Garanhuns Greenfield unit with the MEC was irregular. As of the date of this annual report, the activities of the Garanhuns Greenfield
unit are suspended pursuant to a judgment of the 23rd Federal Court of the State of Pernambuco. On February 27, 2020, the Superior Court of Justice confirmed the judgment of the
23rd Federal Court of the State of Pernambuco and the Garanhuns Greenfield unit remains suspended. Afya Brazil is currently in discussions with MEC to obtain the necessary
authorizations for the Garanhuns Greenfield unit, and to the extent those authorizations are obtained, this proceeding will be extinguished. In July 2019, ITPAC Araguaina filed an
administrative proceeding requesting MEC’s reappraisal of its previous decision that denied the request of transferring the administrative proceeding related to the medical course
authorization, filed in 2011, from the state educational system to the federal educational system, pursuant to applicable regulation. On September 2, 2020, MEC published Ordinance
no. 722 recognizing the right of ITPAC and determining the review of the regularization request formulated in 2011 by the institution. On November 5, 2021, the instruction
authorizing the start of educational activities was published.
On November 30, 2019, a public proceeding was filed by Domingos Borges da Silva against Centro de Ensino São Lucas, other educational institutions and the city hall of
Porto Velho, alleging (i) that the defendants were purportedly not granting all the full scholarships to undergraduate students from "Programa de Inclusão Social Universidade
Para Todos – Faculdade da Prefeitura,” provided by Municipal Law No. 1,887/10 and modified by Municipal Law No. 2,284/16; (ii) that due to the lack of full scholarships, the
Treasury was being jeopardized because the agreement was for tax waive in exchange to the full scholarships for the beneficiary from the referred Program; (iii) therefore, the
plaintiff requires to be awarded a preliminary injunction to revoke Municipal Laws Nos. 1,887/10 and 2,284/16 and the suspension of the adhesion contracts to the Program signed
by the defendants; and (iv) that the defendants should be liable for alleged material damages and loss of profits. On January 13, 2020, the lower court denied the preliminary
injunction. On March 3, 2020, São Lucas was served. The lawsuit was not ruled by the lower court yet. It is important to highlight that Centro de Ensino São Lucas is currently
granting scholarships from the Program and, by December 2020, there were 290 scholarships being offered. We estimate the amount of any claim for damages that may be imposed
on us as a result of this proceeding to be approximately of R$12.5 million, with the likelihood of loss as possible.
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The provisions related to civil proceedings whose likelihood of loss is assessed as probable are R$24.7 million as of December 31, 2022. There are other civil proceedings
assessed by management and our legal counsels as possible risk of loss, for which no provisions are recognized in the amount of R$59.6 million as of December 31, 2022.
Labor Matters
As of December 31, 2022, we and our subsidiaries were party to approximately 260 labor proceedings, 178 of which are judicial proceedings and 82 of which are administrative
proceedings. The principal labor proceedings to which we are a party were filed by former employees or service providers seeking enforcement of labor rights allegedly not
provided by us. The judicial proceedings relate to employment bonds (judicial proceedings filed by former service providers), overtime, premiums for hazardous workplace
conditions, statutory severance, fines for severance payment delays, and compensation for workplace-related accidents. The administrative proceedings relate to the alleged failure
by us to comply with certain labor laws, including with respect to working hours, the registration of employment agreements, disabled workers’ hiring quotas and the protection of
underage workers and apprentices.
The provisions related to labor proceedings whose likelihood of loss is assessed as probable are R$22.4 million as of December 31, 2022. There are other labor proceedings
assessed by management and our legal counsels as possible risk of loss, for which no provisions are recognized in the amount of R$13.9 million as of December 31, 2022.
Tax and Social Security Matters
As of December 31, 2022, certain of our subsidiaries were party to 75 tax and social security proceedings, 48 of which are judicial proceedings and 27 of which are
administrative proceedings, for which we did not record any provisions based on the advice of our external legal counsel that the likelihood of loss is possible. The tax claims to
which these subsidiaries are party are mostly tax foreclosures filed by Brazilian federal and municipal tax authorities. The most significant tax claim is in an amount of R$52.4 million,
in which Unigranrio is a plaintiff in a tax debit annulment action that seeks to void three tax assessments relating to tax immunities in the collection of ISS taxes. As of the date of
this annual report, a decision by the trial court is pending.
ITPAC Porto Nacional is party to one tax foreclosure proceeding filed by the Brazilian federal government on July 12, 2010 for the collection of social security contribution on
payroll debts in the total historical amount of R$2.8 million, for which we did not record any provisions based on the advice of our external legal counsel that the likelihood of loss
is possible. As of the date of this annual report, the amount of this proceeding is approximately R$3.1 million and the proceeding is pending the decision of the lower court.
UniSL is party to tax proceeding filed by city of Porto Velho on July 19, 2017 for having allegedly incurred in insufficient payment of ISS taxes in the total historical amount of
R$6.0 million. As of the date of this annual report, the amount of this proceeding is approximately R$12.8 million and the likelihood of loss as possible.
The provisions related to taxes proceedings whose likelihood of loss is assessed as probable are R$148.7 million as of December 31, 2022. There are other Taxes proceedings
assessed by Management and its legal counsels as possible risk of loss, for which no provisions are recognized in the amount of R$4.9 million as of December 31, 2022.
"Mais Médicos” Proceedings
On January 15, 2019, Sociedade de Ensino Superior Estácio de Sá Ltda., or SESES, filed a writ against SERES, requesting a judicial review of SERES’s decision to disqualify the
SESES bid to open a medical school in the city of Bragança, State of Pará, as part of the public procurement for the "Mais Médicos” program, and award it to ITPAC Porto
Nacional. The lower court granted a preventive injunction in favor of SESES, suspending SERES’s award of the medical school to ITPAC Porto Nacional. ITPAC Porto Nacional
joined these proceedings as a co-defendant. On March 6, 2019, the federal prosecutor issued an opinion to dismiss the writ. On September 11, 2019, the lower court dismissed the
writ and revoked the suspension of the award of the medical school granted by MEC to ITPAC Porto Nacional, and we became authorized by MEC to open and operate a medical
school in the city of Bragança. As of the date of this annual report, the proceedings are pending the review of the appeal by the Federal Court of Appeals.
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On January 31, 2019, Brasil Educação S.A., or BR Educação, filed proceedings against SERES, requesting a judicial review of SERES’s decision to disqualify the BR Educação
bid to open a school in the city of Abaetetuba, State of Pará, as part of the public procurement for the "Mais Médicos” program, and award it to ITPAC Porto Nacional. ITPAC
Porto Nacional joined these proceedings as a co-defendant. The lower court granted a preventive injunction in favor of BR Educação, suspending SERES’s award of the medical
school to ITPAC Porto Nacional.
This injunction was subsequently repealed by the Federal Court of Appeals upon preliminary review. As of the date of this annual report, the proceedings are pending the
issuance of the final decision by the lower court and the Federal Court of Appeals, and ITPAC Porto Nacional is authorized by MEC to open and operate a medical school in the
city of Abaetetuba.
On February 2, 2019, in proceedings separate to those of BR Educação, Faculdades Integradas Carajás S/C Ltda., or Faculdades Carajás, filed a writ against SERES, requesting
a judicial review of SERES’s decision to disqualify the Faculdades Carajás bid to open a medical school in the city of Abaetetuba, State of Pará, as part of the public procurement
for the "Mais Médicos” program, and award it to ITPAC Porto Nacional. The lower court granted a preventive injunction in favor of Faculdades Carajás, suspending SERES’s
award of the school to ITPAC Porto Nacional. On October 10, 2019, Faculdades Carajás filed a motion to dismiss the writ, and the writ was dismissed by the lower court on January
10, 2020. Consequently, ITPAC Porto Nacional is authorized by MEC to open and operate a medical school in the city of Abaetetuba.
In July 2019, Instituto Metropolitano de Ensino Ltda., or IME, filed a lawsuit against SERES requesting the cancellation of the results of the public procurement for the "Mais
Médicos” program in connection with the awards granted to IPTAN and ITPAC Araguaína to open medical schools in the cities of Itacoatiara and Manacapuru, located in the
State of Amazonas. IME alleges that SERES’s final decision with respect to IME’s participation in the public procurement was irregular. On September 11, 2019, the lower court
granted a preventive injunction in favor of IME, suspending SERES’s award of the medical schools to IPTAN and ITPAC Araguaína. IPTAN and ITPAC Araguaína joined these
proceedings as co-defendants. The preventive injunction was suspended following an appeal filed by SERES, and SERES, IPTAN and ITPAC Araguaína filed their responses to
IME’s allegations. As of the date of this annual report, these proceedings are pending the decision of the lower court. On February 14, 2020, the preventive injunction granted in
favor of IME to suspend the results of the public procurement in the cities of Itacoatiara and Manacapuru was revoked by the Federal Court of Appeals. This decision gave a
suspensive effect for the appeal filed by IPTAN and ITPAC Araguaína, rendering the decisions of the first instance without effect.
Dividends and Dividend Policy
We have not adopted a dividend policy with respect to future distributions of dividends. The amount of any distributions will depend on many factors such as our results of
operations, financial condition, cash requirements, prospects and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors and, where applicable, our shareholders. We currently
intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of our business and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in
the foreseeable future. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to Our Class A Common Shares—It is unlikely that we will declare any dividends on
our common shares in the foreseeable future and therefore, you must rely on price appreciation of our common shares for a return on your investment.”
We may make any future determination to pay dividends based on an ordinary shareholder resolution, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of
directors. Even if our board of directors recommends a dividend payment, the form, frequency and amount will depend on a number of factors, including our future operations and
earnings, our capital requirements and surplus, our general financial condition, impositions of restrictions on conversions and remittances of funds abroad in the jurisdictions
where we operate, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. Cash dividends on our common shares, if any, will be paid in U.S.
dollars.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We rely on dividends and distributions from our subsidiaries in Brazil for our cash requirements, including
funds to pay our operating expenses, service any debt we may incur and pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders. Also, payments of dividends from Afya
Brazil to Afya Limited may be made according to cash requirements. Our holding company structure makes us dependent on the operations of our subsidiaries and therefore, any
determination to pay dividends in the future will depend on our ability to receive distributions from them. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain Risks Relating to
Our Business and Industry—Our holding company structure makes us dependent on the operations of our subsidiaries. We depend on dividend distributions by our subsidiaries,
and we may be adversely affected if the performance of our subsidiaries is not positive.”
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Certain Cayman Islands Legal Requirements Related to Dividends
Under the Companies Act and our Articles of Association, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either its profit or share premium account, but a dividend
may not be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. According to our Articles of Association,
dividends can be declared and paid out of funds lawfully available to us, which include the share premium account. Dividends, if any, would be paid in proportion to the number of
common shares a shareholder holds. For further information, see "Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Cayman Islands Tax Considerations.”
Certain Brazilian Legal Requirements Related to Dividends
Our ability to pay dividends is directly related to positive and distributable net results from our Brazilian subsidiaries. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Certain
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Our holding company structure makes us dependent on the operations of our subsidiaries. We depend on dividend distributions by
our subsidiaries, and we may be adversely affected if the performance of our subsidiaries is not positive.” Our Brazilian subsidiaries are required under Federal Law No. 6,404 dated
December 15, 1976, as amended, to distribute a mandatory minimum dividend to shareholders each year, which cannot be lower than 25% of their income for the prior year, unless a
lower mandatory minimum dividend is provided for in such subsidiary by-laws or such distribution is suspended by a decision of such subsidiary’s shareholders at its annual
shareholders’ meeting based on a report by its board of directors that such distribution would be incompatible with its financial condition at that time.
In addition, if, for any legal reasons due to new laws or bilateral agreements between countries, our Brazilian subsidiaries are unable to pay dividends to Cayman Islands
companies, or if a Cayman Islands company becomes incapable of receiving them, we may not be able to make any dividend payments in the future.
As of the date of this annual report, Afya Brazil and certain of our subsidiaries are required by their respective bylaws to distribute the following minimum dividends to
shareholders: (i) Afya Brazil, ITPAC Araguaína, ITPAC Porto Nacional, IESP, IPTAN, UEPC, FASA, UniRedentor, PEBMED, FESAR, iClinic, Medicinae—at least 25% of adjusted
net profit in each fiscal year; (ii) Medcel—at least 50% of adjusted net profit in each fiscal year; (iii) IESVAP—at least 80% of adjusted net profit in each fiscal year; (iv) UNIVAÇO
—at least 90% of adjusted net profit in each fiscal year; and (v) CCSI—at least 2% of net profit in each fiscal year. FADEP, CIS, IPEMED, IPEC, UniSL, FCMPB, MedPhone,
Medical Harbour, Cliquefarma, Além da Medicina, Cardiopapers, Glic and DelRey are limited liability companies and their articles of association do not stipulate a mandatory
minimum dividend.
We have not declared or paid any dividends to our shareholders since our incorporation in the Cayman Islands on March 22, 2019. See note 17 to our audited consolidated
financial statements for additional information.
B. Significant Changes
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included
in this annual report.
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
A. Offer and Listing Details
On July 19, 2019, we completed our initial public offering. On February 7, 2020, we completed a follow-on offering. Our common shares have been listed on the Nasdaq since
July 19, 2019 under the symbol "AFYA.” Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for our common shares.
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B. Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C. Markets
See "—A. Offer and Listing Details” above.
D. Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
E. Dilution
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. Share Capital
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
Description of Share Capital
We were incorporated on March 22, 2019 as a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability duly registered with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies. Our
corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have the authority to carry out any object not prohibited by law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act.
Our affairs are governed principally by (i) our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association; (ii) the Companies Act; and (iii) the common law of the
Cayman Islands. As provided in our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, subject to Cayman Islands law, we have full capacity to carry on or
undertake any business or activity, do any act or enter into any transaction, and, for such purposes, full rights, powers and privileges. Our registered office is c/o Maples
Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
Our Articles of Association authorize the issuance of share capital of up to 1,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.00005 each, which, at the date of this annual
report, comprise 500,000,000 Class A common shares and 250,000,000 Class B common shares (which may be converted into Class A common shares in the manner contemplated in
our Articles of Association), and 250,000,000 shares of such class or classes (howsoever designated) and having the rights that our board of directors may determine. As of the
date of this annual report, we have 47,920,068 Class A common shares, of which 3,786,285 are common shares held in treasury, 45,802,763 Class B common shares, and 150,000
Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares of our authorized share capital issued and outstanding.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of our authorized share capital and our Articles of Association.
Share Capital
The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association currently authorize two classes of common shares: Class A common shares, which are entitled to one
vote per share, and Class B common shares, which are entitled to 10 votes per share and to maintain a proportional ownership interest in the event that additional Class A common
shares are issued. Any holder of Class B common shares may convert his or her shares at any time into Class A common shares on a share-for-share basis. The rights of the two
classes of common shares are otherwise identical, except as described below. The implementation of this dual class equity structure was required by the Esteves Family and
Crescera, our principal shareholders in the year of 2019, as a condition of undertaking the initial public offering of our common shares. See "—Anti-Takeover Provisions in Our
Articles of Association—Two Classes of Common Shares.”
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As of December 31, 2022, our total authorized share capital was US$50,000, divided into 1,000,000,000 shares par value US$0.00005 each, of which:
·
500,000,000 shares are designated as Class A common shares;
·
250,000,000 shares are designated as Class B common shares; and
·
250,000,000 shares of such class or classes (howsoever designated) and having the rights as the Board may determine.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s issued and outstanding share capital was R$17,000 (R$17,000 as of December 31, 2021) represented by 93,722,831 shares comprised
by 47,920,068 Class A common shares and 45,802,763 Class B common shares (93,722,831 shares comprised by 47,920,068 Class A common shares and 45,802,763 Class B common
shares as of December 31, 2021). In addition, as of December 31, 2022, 150,000 Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares were outstanding, representing approximately 6.6% of
our outstanding common shares, including the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares on an as-converted basis.
Treasury Shares
As of December 31, 2022, Afya had 3,786,285 common shares in treasury.
Issuance of Shares
Except as expressly provided in our Articles of Association, our board of directors has general and unconditional authority to allot, grant options over, offer or otherwise deal
with or dispose of any unissued shares in the company’s capital without the approval of our shareholders (whether forming part of the original or any increased share capital),
either at a premium or at par, with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to
such persons, on such terms and conditions, and at such times as the directors may decide, but so that no share shall be issued at a discount, except in accordance with the
provisions of the Companies Act. In accordance with its Articles of Association, Afya shall not issue bearer shares.
Our Articles of Association provide that at any time that there are Class A common shares in issue, additional Class B common shares may only be issued pursuant to (i) a
share split, subdivision of shares or similar transaction or where a dividend or other distribution is paid by the issue of shares or rights to acquire shares or following capitalization
of profits, (ii) a merger, consolidation, or other business combination, or (iii) an issuance of shares including Class A common shares or any other class of share designated as a
common share pursuant to the Articles of Association, whereby each holder of the Class B common shares is entitled to purchase a number of Class B common shares that would
allow it to maintain its proportional ownership interests in Afya (following an offer by Afya to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder, upon the same
economic terms and at the same price, such number of Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in Afya pursuant to
our Articles of Association). In light of: (a) the above provisions; (b) the fact that future transfers by holders of Class B common shares will generally result in those shares
converting to Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions as provided in the Articles of Association; and (c) the ten-to-one voting ratio between our Class B common
shares and Class A common shares, means that holders of our Class B common shares will in many situations continue to maintain control of all matters requiring shareholder
approval.
This concentration of ownership and voting power will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For more information see "—
Preemptive or Similar Rights.”
Our Articles of Association also provide that the issuance of non-voting common shares requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the then-outstanding Class A common
shares and the prior written consent of a Bertelsmann Director and Esteves Family Director as set out below in "—Proceedings of the Board of Directors.”
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Fiscal Year
Our fiscal year begins on January 1 of each year and ends on December 31 of the same year.
Voting Rights
The holders of the Class A common shares and Class B common shares have identical rights, except that (i) the holder of Class B common shares is entitled to 10 votes per
share, whereas holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share, (ii) Class B common shares have certain conversion rights and (iii) the holders of Class B
common shares are entitled to maintain their proportional ownership interest in the event that common shares and/or preferred shares are proposed to be issued. For more
information see below "—Preemptive or Similar Rights” and "—Conversion.” The holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares vote together as a single class
on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of shareholders, except as provided below and as otherwise required by law.
Our Articles of Association provide as follows regarding the respective rights of holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares:
(i) Class consents from the holders of Class A common shares or Class B common shares, as applicable, shall be required for any variation to the rights attached to their
respective class of shares, however, the directors may treat any two or more classes of shares as forming one class if they consider that all such classes would be affected in the
same way by the proposal;
(ii) the rights conferred on holders of Class A common shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Class B common shares and vice versa;
and
(iii) the rights attaching to the Class A common shares and the Class B common shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking
pari passu therewith, the redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by the Company, the cancellation of authorised but unissued shares of that class or the creation or
issue of shares with preferred or other rights, including, without limitation, shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
As set forth in the Articles of Association, the holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares, respectively, do not have the right to vote separately if the
number of authorized shares of such class is increased or decreased. Rather, the number of authorized Class A common shares and Class B common shares may be increased or
decreased (but not below the number of shares of such class then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and
outstanding Class A common shares and Class B common shares, voting together in a general meeting.
Preemptive or Similar Rights
The Class A common shares and Class B common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights upon transfer and are not subject to conversion (except as described below
under "—Conversion”), redemption or sinking fund provisions.
The Class B common shares are entitled to maintain a proportional ownership interest in the event that additional common and/or preferred shares are issued. As such, if Afya
issues common and/or preferred shares, it must first make an offer to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder on the same economic terms such number of
Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in Afya. This right to maintain a proportional ownership interest may be
waived by all of the holders of Class B common shares, such waiver to remain effective until the date specified therein or 12 months from the date of the waiver.
Conversion
The outstanding Class B common shares are convertible at any time as follows: (i) at the option of the holder, a Class B common share may be converted at any time into one
Class A common share or (ii) upon the election of the holders of all the then issued and outstanding Class B common shares, all outstanding Class B common shares may be
converted into a like number of Class A common shares. In addition, each Class B common share will convert automatically into one Class A common share upon any transfer,
whether or not for value, except for certain transfers described in the Articles of Association, including transfers to holders of Class B common shares, to affiliates, to and between
the Esteves Family, Bertelsmann, their family members and their respective children, heirs and successors, trusts solely for the benefit of the shareholder or their affiliates, and to
partnerships, corporations and other entities exclusively owned or controlled by the Class B shareholder or their affiliates and certain transfers to organizations that are exempt
from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Furthermore, each Class B common share will convert automatically into one Class A
common share and no Class B common shares will be issued thereafter if, at any time, the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is less than 10% of
the total number of shares outstanding. To the extent that Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family cease to be a Class B common shareholder, the rights nominally vested to each shall
vest in their permitted transferee within the meaning of our Articles of Association.
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No class of our common shares may be subdivided or combined unless the other class of common shares is concurrently subdivided or combined in the same proportion and
in the same manner.
Equal Status
Except as expressly provided in our Articles of Association, Class A common shares and Class B common shares have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share
ratably and are identical in all respects as to all matters.
In the event of any merger, consolidation, scheme, arrangement or other business combination requiring the approval of our shareholders entitled to vote thereon (whether or
not Afya is the surviving entity), the holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration as the holders
of Class B common shares, and the holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration on a
per share basis as the holders of Class B common shares. In the event of any (i) tender or exchange offer to acquire any Class A common shares or Class B common shares by any
third-party pursuant to an agreement to which Afya is a party, or (ii) any tender or exchange offer by Afya to acquire any Class A common shares or Class B common shares, the
holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration as the holders of Class B common shares, and the
holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of
Class B common shares.
Record Dates
For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at any general meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to
receive dividend or other distribution payments, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other purpose, Our board of directors may set a record date which shall
not exceed 40 clear days prior to the date where the determination will be made.
General Meetings of Shareholders
As a condition of admission to a shareholders’ meeting, a shareholder must be duly registered as a shareholder of Afya at the applicable record date for that meeting and, in
order to vote, all calls or installments then payable by such shareholder to Afya in respect of the shares that such shareholder holds must have been paid.
Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting then attached to any shares, at any general meeting every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the
case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative not being himself or herself a shareholder entitled to vote) shall have one vote per Class A common
share and 10 votes per Class B common share.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, Afya is not obliged by the Companies Act to call annual general meetings; however, the Articles of Association provide that in each
year the company will hold an annual general meeting of shareholders, at a time determined by the board of directors. For the annual general meeting of shareholders the agenda
will include, among other things, the presentation of the annual accounts and the report of the directors (if any). In addition, the agenda for an annual general meeting of
shareholders will only include such items as have been included therein by the board of directors.
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Also, Afya may, but is not required to (unless required by the laws of the Cayman Islands), hold other extraordinary general meetings during the year. General meetings of
shareholders are generally expected to take place in Nova Lima, Brazil, but may be held elsewhere if the directors so decide.
The Companies Act provides shareholders a limited right to request a general meeting and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general
meeting in default of a company’s Articles of Association. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s Articles of Association. Our Articles of Association provide
that upon the requisition of one or more shareholders representing not less than one-third of the voting rights entitled to vote at general meetings, the board will convene an
extraordinary general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. The Articles of Association provide no other right to put any proposals before
annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings.
Subject to regulatory requirements, the annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meetings must be called by not less than 10 clear calendar days’ notice prior to
the relevant shareholders meeting and convened by a notice discussed below. Alternatively, upon the prior consent of all holders entitled to receive notice, with regards to the
annual general meeting, and a majority in number of the members (which shall include Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family) together holding at least 95% in par value of the shares
entitled to attend and vote, with regards to an extraordinary general meeting, that meeting may be convened by a shorter notice and in a manner deemed appropriate by those
holders.
Afya will give notice of each general meeting of shareholders by publication on its website and in any other manner that it may be required to follow in order to comply with
Cayman Islands law, Nasdaq and SEC requirements. The holders of registered shares may be given notice of a shareholders’ meeting by means of letters sent to the addresses of
those shareholders as registered in our shareholders’ register, or, subject to certain statutory requirements, by electronic means.
Holders whose shares are registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, which we expect will be the case for all holders of Class A common shares, will not be a
shareholder or member of the company and must rely on the procedures of DTC regarding notice of shareholders’ meetings and the exercise of rights of a holder of the Class A
common shares.
A quorum for a general meeting consists of any one or more persons holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third of the aggregate voting power of all shares in
issue and entitled to vote upon the business to be transacted.
A resolution put to a vote at a general meeting shall be decided on a poll. An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders at a general meeting requires the affirmative
vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the shareholders entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy and voting at the meeting. A special resolution
requires the affirmative vote on a poll of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting.
Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our Company, as permitted by the
Companies Act and our Articles of Association.
Pursuant to our Articles of Association, general meetings of shareholders are to be chaired by the co-chairman of our board of directors appointed by Bertelsmann or in his
absence, the co-chairman of the board of directors appointed by the Esteves Family. If both such co-chairmen are absent, the directors present at the meeting shall appoint one of
them to be chairman of the general meeting. If neither the chairmen nor another director is present at the general meeting within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding the
meeting, the shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote may elect any one of the shareholders to be chairman. The order of business at each meeting shall be
determined by the chairman of the meeting and he or she shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things
as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety,
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Company, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement
thereof, and the opening and closing of the polls. The chairman shall not have the right to vote in his capacity as chairman and shall not have a casting vote.
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Liquidation Rights
If Afya is voluntarily wound up, the liquidator, after taking into account and giving effect to the rights of preferred and secured creditors and to any agreement between Afya
and any creditors that the claims of such creditors shall be subordinated or otherwise deferred to the claims of any other creditors and to any contractual rights of set-off or netting
of claims between Afya and any person or persons (including without limitation any bilateral or any multi-lateral set-off or netting arrangements between the company and any
person or persons) and subject to any agreement between Afya and any person or persons to waive or limit the same, shall apply our property in satisfaction of its liabilities pari
passu and subject thereto shall distribute the property amongst the shareholders according to their rights and interests in Afya.
Special Matters
Afya may not without the prior written consent of (i) Bertelsmann for so long as it holds Class B common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold and (ii) the Esteves
Family for so long as it holds Class B common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold: change the number of directors; amend its Memorandum and Articles of Association;
vary the rights attaching to shares; approve the winding-up, liquidation or dissolution of Afya; or take certain actions in respect of its share capital as set out in the Articles of
Association; register as an exempted limited duration company; or approve the transfer by way of continuation of Afya to a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands.
Anti-Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering
Our Articles of Association contain stringent anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and certain other related measures applicable to us, our officers and directors, and its
service providers. The Articles of Association provide that if one of our shareholders is found to have been involved in an act of corruption, money laundering or other related
irregular act, the directors shall convene a meeting to consider the circumstances of such incident, and establish a course of action to be taken against such shareholder. The
actions range from (i) suspending such shareholder from his/her duties as a director, officer and/or employee (if applicable) of the Company; (ii) terminating such duties;
(iii) directing such shareholder to transfer the entirety of his/her shareholding in the Company to his/her children and/or heirs; or (iv) if such transfer is not possible, resolve that
the shares in the Company owned by such shareholder be mandatorily redeemed by us. Further, our Articles of Association provide that we shall not engage the services of any
provider that has been found to violate applicable anti-corruption laws, and further provide that we and our shareholders shall not violate applicable anti-corruption laws.
Changes to Capital
Subject to the restrictions contained in the Articles of Association and summarized above in "—Special Matters,” Afya may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
·
increase its share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
·
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares;
·
convert all or any of its paid-up shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;
·
subdivide its existing shares or any of them into shares of a smaller amount, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if
any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or
·
cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital
by the amount of the shares so canceled.
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by the Company for an order confirming such
reduction, reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.
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In addition, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our Articles of Association, Afya may:
·
issue shares on terms that they are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed;
·
purchase its own shares (including any redeemable shares); and
·
make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares in any manner authorized by the Companies Act, including out of its own capital.
Transfer of Shares
Subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in the Articles of Association, any shareholder of Afya may transfer all or any of his or her common shares by an instrument of
transfer in the usual or common form or in the form prescribed by the Nasdaq or any other form approved by the Company’s board of directors.
The Class A common shares are traded on the Nasdaq in book-entry form and may be transferred in accordance with our Articles of Association and Nasdaq’s rules and
regulations.
However, our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any common share which is either not fully paid up to a person of whom it
does not approve or is issued under any share incentive scheme for employees which contains a transfer restriction that is still applicable to such common share. The board of
directors may also decline to register any transfer of any common share unless:
·
the instrument of transfer is lodged with Afya, accompanied by the certificate (if any) for the common shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of
directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
·
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
·
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
·
the common shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of Afya; and
·
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.
If the directors refuse to register a transfer they are required, within 15 business days after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to the transferee
notice of such refusal.
Share Repurchases
The Companies Act and the Articles of Association permit Afya to purchase its own shares, subject to certain restrictions. The board of directors may only exercise this
power on behalf of Afya, and subject to the Companies Act, the Articles of Association and to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the SEC, the Nasdaq, or
by any recognized stock exchange on which our securities are listed. Set forth below is a description of our share repurchase programs.
1st Share Repurchase Program. Our Board of Directors approved a share buyback program on December 23, 2020. Under the share buyback program, Afya may repurchase up
to 1,015,844 of its outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions, over a period beginning on
December 24, 2020 continuing until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2021, depending upon market conditions. We repurchased the shares to execute
the stock option program for the executives of the company and utilized our existing funds to fund repurchases made under this program. Our Board of Directors also authorized
management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as our agent to purchase the shares on our behalf in the open market. It is our intention such purchases benefit from the safe harbor
provided by Rule 10b-18 ("Rule 10b-18”) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we shall not take, nor permit any person or entity under its control to take,
any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rule 10b-18 for purchases of our common shares under the program. The share buyback program was completed on October 21,
2021, upon the completion of the purchase of the full amount of Class A common shares permitted under the program.
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2nd Share Repurchase Program. After the completion of our first share repurchase program on October 21, 2021 that resulted in the purchase of 1,015,844 Class A common
shares, our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program on October 27, 2021, or the second share repurchase program. Under the second share repurchase
program, Afya may repurchase up to 1,383,108 of its outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated
transactions, beginning on October 28, 2021 until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2022, depending upon market conditions. We repurchased the
shares to execute the stock option program for the executives of the company and utilized our existing funds to fund repurchases made under this program. The Board of Directors
of Afya also authorized management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as its agent to purchase the shares on its behalf in the open market. It is Afya’s intention that such purchases
benefit from the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Afya shall not take, nor permit any person or entity under its
control to take, any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rule 10b-18 for purchases under the program. The second share repurchase program was completed on January
14, 2022, upon the purchase of the full amount of Class A common shares permitted under the second share repurchase program.
3rd Share Repurchase Program. After the completion of our second share repurchase program, which resulted in the purchase of 1,383,108 Class A common shares, our Board
of Directors approved a new share repurchase program on January 27, 2022, or the third share repurchase program. Under the third share repurchase program, Afya may repurchase
up to 1,874,457 of its outstanding Class A common shares which represents 4% of its free float, in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated
transactions, beginning on January 27, 2022, until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2022, depending upon market conditions. We repurchased the
shares for use in our stock option program, as consideration in business combination transactions and for general corporate purposes and utilized our existing funds and
dividends received from Afya Brazil to fund repurchases made under this program. The Board of Directors of Afya also authorized management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as
its agent to purchase the shares on its behalf in the open market. It is Afya’s intention that such purchases benefit from the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 promulgated by
the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Afya shall not take, nor permit any person or entity under its control to take, any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rule
10b-18 for purchases under the program. The third share repurchase program was completed on May 4, 2022, upon the purchase of the full amount of Class A common shares
permitted under the third share repurchase program.
4th Share Repurchase Program. After the completion of our third share repurchase program, which resulted in the purchase of 1,874,457 Class A common shares, our board of
directors has approved a new share repurchase program on March 23, 2023, or the fourth share repurchase program. Under the fourth share repurchase program, Afya may
repurchase up to 2,000,000 of its outstanding Class A common shares, in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions, beginning on
April 3, 2023 until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2024, depending upon market conditions.
The share repurchases may be made from time to time through open market transactions and are subject to market and business conditions, levels of available liquidity, cash
requirements for other purposes, regulatory, and other relevant factors. Afya intends to repurchase the shares for use in its stock option and restricted shares programs, as
consideration in future business combination transactions and for general corporate purposes. Afya expects to utilize its existing funds and future dividends to be received from
Afya Brazil and/or strike price funds to be received in connection with any option exercises under its stock option program, to fund repurchases made under this program. Afya’s
Board of Directors will review the share repurchase program periodically and may authorize adjustments to its terms and size or suspend or discontinue the program.
The Board of Directors of Afya also authorized management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as its agent to purchase the shares on its behalf in the open market. It is Afya’s
intention that such purchases benefit from the safe harbors provided by Rules 10b-18 and 10b5-1 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Afya shall not
take, nor permit any person or entity under its control to take, any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rules 10b-18 or 10b5-1 for purchases under the program.
Dividends and Capitalization of Profits
We have not adopted a dividend policy with respect to payments of any future dividends by Afya. Subject to the Companies Act, our shareholders may, by resolution passed
by a simple majority of the voting rights entitled to vote at a general meeting, declare dividends (including interim dividends) to be paid to shareholders but no dividend shall
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be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the board of directors. The board of directors may also declare dividends. Dividends may be declared and paid out of funds
lawfully available to Afya. Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to shares and the Articles of Association of Afya, all dividends shall be paid in proportion to the
number of Class A common shares or Class B common shares a shareholder holds at the date the dividend is declared (or such other date as may be set as a record date); but, (i) if
any share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that share shall rank for dividend accordingly, and (ii) where we have shares in issue
which are not fully paid up (as to par value) we may pay dividends in proportion to the amounts paid up on each share.
The holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares shall be entitled to share equally in any dividends that may be declared in respect of our common shares
from time to time. In the event that a dividend is paid in the form of Class A common shares or Class B common shares, or rights to acquire Class A common shares or Class B
common shares, (i) the holders of Class A common shares shall receive Class A common shares, or rights to acquire Class A common shares, as the case may be; and (ii) the
holders of Class B common shares shall receive Class B common shares, or rights to acquire Class B common shares, as the case may be.
Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares rank senior to our common with respect to dividend rights and rights on the distribution of assets on any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company. The holders of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are entitled to a cumulative
dividend at the rate of 6.5% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. Dividends are payable in kind through the issuance of additional Series A perpetual convertible preferred
shares, in cash, or in any combination of both, at our discretion. The holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are also entitled to participate in dividends
declared or paid on our common stock on an as-converted basis.
Appointment, Disqualification and Removal of Directors
Afya is managed by its board of directors. The Articles of Association provide that, unless otherwise determined by a special resolution of shareholders, the board of
directors will be composed of four to 14 directors, with the number being determined by a majority of the directors then in office. There are no provisions relating to retirement of
directors upon reaching any age limit. The Articles of Association also provide that, while our shares are admitted to trading on Nasdaq, the board of directors must always comply
with the residency and citizenship requirements of the U.S. securities laws applicable to foreign private issuers. Bertelsmann for so long as it holds Class B common shares in
excess of the Ownership Threshold may appoint up to seven directors at its discretion (and is entitled at any time to remove substitute or replace such directors) ("Bertelsmann
Directors”), and the Esteves Family for so long as it holds Class B common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold may appoint up to two directors at its discretion (and is
entitled at any time to remove substitute or replace such directors) ("Esteves Family Directors”), in addition for so long as both hold Class B common shares in excess of the
Ownership Threshold, they may appoint a further director (the "Joint Director”) and are entitled at any time to remove, substitute or replace the Joint Director (provided that if only
one of Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family holds Class B Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold, then only Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family, as applicable, shall
have such right). The Board of Directors shall have one (1) co-chairman appointed by Bertelsmann, for so long as it holds Class B Common Shares in excess of the Ownership
Threshold and one (1) co-chairman appointed by the Esteves Family, for so long as it holds Class B Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold, thereafter, the chairman
of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by a majority of the Directors then in office.
Subject to the foregoing, the Articles of Association provide that directors shall be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders, which requires the affirmative vote
of a simple majority of the votes cast on the resolution by the shareholders entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Each director shall be appointed
and elected for a two-year term or until his or her death, resignation or removal, and is eligible for re-election.
For the names of our directors, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management—Board of Directors.”
Any vacancies on the board of directors that arise other than in respect of the Bertelsmann and/or Esteves Family director appointments set out above or upon the removal of
a director by resolution passed at a general meeting can be filled by the remaining directors (notwithstanding that they may constitute less than a quorum). Any such appointment
shall be as an interim director to fill such vacancy until the next annual general meeting of shareholders.
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Subject to the foregoing, additions to the existing board (within the limits set pursuant to the Articles of Association) may be made by ordinary resolution of the shareholders.
Our board of directors has an audit committee in place. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management—Audit Committee.”
Grounds for Removing a Director
A director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution, save that each Bertelsmann Director may only be removed by Bertelsmann at its discretion and each
Esteves Family Director may only be removed by the Esteves Family at its discretion.
The notice of general meeting must contain a statement of the intention to remove the director and must be served on the director not less than 10 calendar days before the
meeting. The director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal.
The office of a director will be vacated automatically if he or she (i) becomes prohibited by law from being a director, (ii) becomes bankrupt or makes an arrangement or
composition with his creditors, (iii) dies or is in the opinion of all his co-directors, incapable by reason of mental disorder of discharging his duties as director, (iv) resigns his office
by notice to us or (v) has for more than six months been absent without permission of the directors from meetings of the board of directors held during that period, and the
remaining directors resolve that his or her office be vacated. Further, the Directors may remove a Director as set out above in "—Anti-Corruption.”
Proceedings of the Board of Directors
The Articles of Association provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by the board of directors, save that Afya may not without (i) the consent of a
Bertelsmann Director while there is a Bertelsmann Director and (ii) the consent of an Esteves Family Director while there is an Esteves Family Director: create new classes of shares,
issue new shares, options, warrants or convertible securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for purchase or receive any class of shares
or securities in the capital of Afya; repurchase or redeem any shares; execute and/or terminate any shareholders’ agreement, quotaholders’ agreement, or any other agreements
related to our interest in any subsidiary; approve our financial statements; effect any follow-on offerings of Afya; approve the listing and/or the delisting of our securities with any
designated stock exchange; conduct, negotiate, terminate and/or amend any business, agreement, or transaction between Afya and any related party valued in excess of R$10.0
million, provided that, (A) if the Related Party is the Esteves Family (or an Affiliate thereof), then the consent of the Esteves Family Director shall not be required and (B) if the
Related Party is Bertelsmann (or an Affiliate thereof), then the consent of the Bertelsmann Director shall not be required; approve any sale or encumbrance, for the benefit of a
person of shares issued by any subsidiary, or the admission of any new partner or shareholder in such subsidiaries; carry out any investments outside the scope of the core
business of Afya (as set out in the Articles of Association); incorporate any entity; appoint or terminate the engagement of any auditor that is not an Authorized Auditor as set
out in the Articles of Association; provide any guarantee in respect of any person or related person of any of our shareholders, director and/or officers inter alia; or take actions in
connection with the Company’s Anti-Corruption measures, provided that if the Anti-Corruption measures relate to either Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family, then the consent of
the Esteves Family Director or the Bertelsmann Director respectively shall not be required.
The quorum necessary for the board meeting shall be a simple majority of the directors then in office (subject to there being a minimum of two directors present), and business
at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, neither the chairmen of the board nor the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting
vote.
Subject to the foregoing and the provisions of the Articles of Association, the board of directors may regulate its proceedings as they determine is appropriate. Board
meetings shall be held bi-monthly and shall take place either in Nova Lima, Brazil, or at such other place as the directors may determine.
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Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association, to any directions given by ordinary resolution of the shareholders and the listing rules of the Nasdaq, the board of
directors may from time to time at its discretion exercise all powers of Afya, including, subject to the Companies Act, the power to issue debentures, bonds and other securities of
the company, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third-party.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of Afya shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of the list of shareholders or corporate records of the Company. However,
the board of directors may determine from time to time whether and to what extent our accounting records and books shall be open to inspection by shareholders who are not
members of the board of directors. Notwithstanding the above, the Articles of Association provide shareholders with the right to receive annual financial statements and upon
request agreements executed by the Company and its Related Parties (as defined in the Articles of Association), shareholder agreements to which the Company is a party and
details of any incentive plan. Such right to receive annual financial statements may be satisfied by publishing the same on the company’s website or filing such annual reports as
we are required to file with the SEC.
Register of Shareholders
The Class A common shares are held through DTC, and DTC or Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, and recorded in the shareholders’ register as the holder of our Class A
common shares.
Under Cayman Islands law, Afya must keep a register of shareholders that includes:
·
the names and addresses of the shareholders, a statement of the shares held by each member and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of
each member;
·
whether voting rights attach to the shares in issue;
·
the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
·
the date on which any person ceased to be a member.
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of shareholders of Afya is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e., the register of shareholders will raise a presumption
of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a shareholder registered in the register of shareholders is deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have prima
facie legal title to the shares as set against his or her name in the register of shareholders.
However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects
the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers
that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. If an application for an order for rectification of the register of members were made in respect of our ordinary
shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.
Exempted Company
Afya is an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted
companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted
company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
·
an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
·
an exempted company’s register of shareholders is not open to inspection;
·
an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
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·
an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;
·
an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);
·
an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
·
an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and
·
an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.
"Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional
circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to
pierce or lift the corporate veil).
We are subject to reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. Except as otherwise disclosed in this annual
report, we comply with the Nasdaq rules in lieu of following home country practice.
Anti-Takeover Provisions in Our Articles of Association
Some provisions of the Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of Afya or management that shareholders may consider favorable. In
particular, the capital structure of Afya concentrates ownership of voting rights in the hands of the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann. These provisions, which are summarized
below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control
of Afya to first negotiate with the board of directors. However, these provisions could also have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a
consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of the Class A common shares that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts.
These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the management of Afya. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish
transactions that shareholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Two Classes of Common Shares
The Class B common shares of Afya are entitled to 10 votes per share, while the Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share. Since they own of all of the Class B
common shares of Afya, the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann currently have the ability to elect all directors and to determine the outcome of most matters submitted for a vote of
shareholders. This concentrated voting control could discourage others from initiating any potential merger, takeover, or other change of control transaction that other
shareholders may view as beneficial.
So long as the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann have the ability to determine the outcome of most matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, third parties may be deterred in
their willingness to make an unsolicited merger, takeover, or other change of control proposal, or to engage in a proxy contest for the election of directors. As a result, the fact that
Afya has two classes of common shares may have the effect of depriving you as a holder of Class A common shares of an opportunity to sell your Class A common shares at a
premium over prevailing market prices and make it more difficult to replace the directors and management of Afya.
Preferred Shares
Our board of directors is given wide powers to issue one or more classes or series of shares with preferred rights. Such preferences may include, for example, dividend rights,
conversion rights, redemption privileges, enhanced voting powers and liquidation preferences.
Despite the anti-takeover provisions described above, under Cayman Islands law, our board of directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under the
Articles of Association, for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of Afya.
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For further information on our outstanding Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and
Capital Resources—Indebtedness—Series A Perpetual Convertible Shares” and note 13.2.1(d) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual
report.
Protection of Non-Controlling Shareholders
The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands may, on the application of shareholders holding not less than one fifth of the shares of Afya in issue, appoint an inspector to examine
the Company’s affairs and report thereon in a manner as the Grand Court shall direct.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, any shareholder may petition the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands which may make a winding up order, if the court is of the
opinion that this winding up is just and equitable.
Notwithstanding the U.S. securities laws and regulations that are applicable to Afya, general corporate claims against Afya by its shareholders must, as a general rule, be
based on the general laws of contract or tort applicable in the Cayman Islands or their individual rights as shareholders as established by our Articles of Association.
The Cayman Islands courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English case law precedents, which permit a minority shareholder to commence a representative action
against Afya, or derivative actions in our name, to challenge (i) an act which is ultra vires or illegal, (ii) an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority and the wrongdoers
themselves control Afya, and (iii) an irregularity in the passing of a resolution that requires a qualified (or special) majority.
Registration Rights and Restricted Shares
Although no shareholders of Afya have formal registration rights, they or entities controlled by them or their permitted transferees will be able to sell their shares in the public
market from time to time without registering them, subject to certain limitations on the timing, amount and method of those sales imposed by regulations promulgated by the SEC.
Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and U.S. Corporate Law
The Companies Act was modeled originally after similar laws in England and Wales but does not follow subsequent statutory enactments in England and Wales. In addition,
the Companies Act differs from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of
the Companies Act applicable to Afya and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
The Companies Act permits mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands company and a company incorporated in
another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).
Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which
must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of 66 2/3 % in value) of the shareholders of each company; and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be
specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least
90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent
company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act
(which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation. Where the merger or consolidation
involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is required to make a declaration
to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not
prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any
requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order
made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the company in any foreign jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed
in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or similar arrangement has been
entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.
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Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies, in certain circumstances, schemes of
arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a "scheme of
arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and
take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by, if a shareholder
scheme, shareholders representing three-fourths in value of each class of shareholders with whom the arrangement is to be made or, if a creditor scheme, a majority in number of
each class of creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of creditors, as the case may be, that
are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting or meetings summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the
arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the
transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
·
Afya is not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of its corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;
·
the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;
·
the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and
·
the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a "fraud on the minority.”
If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would
otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the
shares.
Squeeze-out Provisions
When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90.0% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period,
require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection may be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but is unlikely to
succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions,
such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.
Shareholders’ Suits
Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, our Cayman Islands counsel is not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions
have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in
any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on
English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in
circumstances in which:
·
a company is acting or proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;
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·
the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been
obtained; and
·
those who control the company are perpetrating a "fraud on the minority.”
A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.
Borrowing Powers
Our directors may exercise all the powers of Afya to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or
any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of Afya
or of any third party. Such powers may be varied by a special resolution of shareholders (requiring a two-thirds majority vote).
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability
The Companies Act does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of directors and officers, except to the extent that it
may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our
Articles of Association provide that we shall indemnify and hold harmless our directors and officers against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages,
liabilities, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts incurred or sustained by such directors or officers, other than by reason of such person’s dishonesty, willful default or
fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers,
authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending
(whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal or other proceedings concerning Afya or our affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard
of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to Our directors, officers or persons controlling the Company under the foregoing
provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Directors’ and Controlling Shareholders’ Fiduciary Duties
As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company. Accordingly, directors and officers
owe the following fiduciary duties: (1) duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; (2) duty to exercise
powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; (3) directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; (4) duty
to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders; (5) duty to exercise independent judgment; and (6) duty not to put themselves in a position in which there
is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. However, this obligation may be varied by the company’s articles of association, which may permit a
director to vote on a matter in which he has a personal interest provided that he has disclosed that nature of his interest to the board of directors. With respect to the duty of
directors to avoid conflicts of interest, our Articles of Association vary from the applicable provisions of Cayman Islands law mentioned above by providing that a director must
disclose the nature and extent of his or her interest in any contract or arrangement, and following such disclosure and subject to any separate requirement under applicable law or
the listing rules of the Nasdaq, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting, such director may vote in respect of any transaction or arrangement in which he or
she is interested and may be counted in the quorum at the meeting.
A director of a Cayman Islands company also owes to the company duties to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his functions and to exercise reasonable skill, care
and diligence, which has both objective and subjective elements. Recent Cayman Islands case law confirmed that directors must exercise the care, skill and diligence that would be
exercised by a reasonably diligent person having the general knowledge, skill and experience reasonably to be expected of a person acting as a director.
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Additionally, a director must exercise the knowledge, skill and experience which he or she actually possesses.
A general notice may be given to the board of directors to the effect that (i) the director is a member or officer of a specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested
in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the notice be made with that company or firm; or (ii) he or she is to be regarded as interested in any contract or
arrangement which may after the date of the notice to the board of directors be made with a specified person who is connected with him or her, will be deemed sufficient declaration
of interest. This notice shall specify the nature of the interest in question. Following the disclosure being made pursuant to our Articles of Association and subject to any separate
requirement under applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting, a director may vote in respect of any
transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested and may be counted in the quorum at the meeting.
In comparison, under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two
components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise
under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself or herself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a
significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not
use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its
shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a
director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However,
this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must
prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
Furthermore, as a matter of Cayman Islands law and in contrast to the position under Delaware corporate law, controlling shareholders of Cayman Islands companies do not
owe fiduciary duties to those companies, other than the limited duty that applies to all shareholders to exercise their votes to amend a company’s articles of association in good
faith in the interests of the company. The absence of this minority shareholder protection might impact the ability of minority shareholders to protect their interests.
Shareholder Proposals
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice
provisions in the governing documents. The Delaware General Corporation Law does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of
shareholders, but Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in
the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but
shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
The Companies Act provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal
before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our Articles of Association provide that upon the requisition of one or
more shareholders representing not less than one-third of the voting rights entitled to vote at general meetings, the board will convene an extraordinary general meeting and put
the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. The Articles of Association provide no other right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary
general meetings.
Cumulative Voting
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically
provides for it.
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Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to
which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands
law, our Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, the shareholders of Afya are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than
shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Removal of Directors
The office of a director shall be vacated automatically if, among other things, he or she (i) becomes prohibited by law from being a director, (ii) becomes bankrupt or makes an
arrangement or composition with his creditors, (iii) dies or is in the opinion of all his co-directors, incapable by reason of mental disorder of discharging his duties as director,
(iv) resigns his office by notice to us or (v) has for more than six months been absent without permission of the directors from meetings of the board of directors held during that
period, and the remaining directors resolve that his/her office be vacated.
Transaction with Interested Shareholders
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by this statute, it is prohibited from engaging in
certain business combinations with an "interested shareholder” for three years following the date that this person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder
generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting shares or who or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation
and owned 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-
tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which the shareholder
becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested
shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, Afya cannot avail itself of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute.
However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that the board of directors owe duties
to ensure that these transactions are entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and, as noted above, a transaction may be
subject to challenge if it has the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Dissolution; Winding Up
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of
the total voting power of the corporation. If the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors it may be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares.
Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.
Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company
resolves by ordinary resolution that it be wound up because it is unable to pay its debts as they fall due. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified
circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.
Under the Companies Act, Afya may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by a special resolution of shareholders (requiring a two-thirds majority vote). Our Articles of
Association also give its board of directors authority to petition the Cayman Islands Court to wind up Afya.
Variation of Rights of Shares
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of that class,
unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our Articles of Association, if the share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, the rights attached
to any class may only be varied with the written consent of the holders of two-thirds of the shares of that class or the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting
of the holders of the shares of that class.
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Also, except with respect to share capital (as described above), alterations to our Articles of Association may only be made by special resolution of shareholders (requiring a
two-thirds majority vote).
Amendment of Governing Documents
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may be amended only if adopted and declared advisable by the board of directors
and approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and the bylaws may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote
and may, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, also be amended by the board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, our Articles of Association generally (and save
for certain amendments to share capital described in this section) may only be amended by special resolution of shareholders (requiring a two-thirds majority vote).
Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no limitations imposed by our Articles of Association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In
addition, there are no provisions in the Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
C. Material Contracts
For information concerning certain contracts important to our business, see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources” and
"Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our Recent Acquisitions.”
Except as otherwise described in this annual report on Form 20-F, we have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business.
D. Exchange Controls
See "Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected Financial Data—Exchange Rates.”
E. Taxation
Cayman Islands Tax Considerations
The Cayman Islands laws currently levy no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of
inheritance tax or estate duty or withholding tax applicable to us or to any holder of Class A common shares. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the
government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman
Islands. No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands on transfers of shares of Cayman Islands companies except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands. The
Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties which are applicable to any payments made by or to our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency
restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, we are entitled, upon application, to receive an undertaking as to tax concessions pursuant to Section 6 of the
Tax Concessions Act (As Revised). This undertaking would provide that, for a period of 20 years from the date of issue of the undertaking, no law thereafter enacted in the
Cayman Islands imposing any taxes to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciation will apply to us or our operations.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Class A common shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the
payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Class A common shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Class A common shares be subject to Cayman Islands
income or corporation tax.
There is no income tax treaty or convention currently in effect between the United States and the Cayman Islands.
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U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the U.S. Holders described below of owning and disposing of Class A common shares,
but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to own the securities. This discussion
applies to you only if you hold Class A common shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, it does not describe any state, local or non-U.S. tax
consequences or all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of your particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences, the potential
application of the provisions of the Code known as the Medicare contribution tax and tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special rules, such as:
·
one of certain financial institutions;
·
a dealer or trader in securities who uses a mark-to-market method of tax accounting;
·
a person holding a Class A common shares as part of a straddle, wash sale, conversion transaction or integrated transaction or entering into a constructive sale with
respect to a Class A common share;
·
a person whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;
·
an entity classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
·
a tax-exempt entity, an "individual retirement account” or a "Roth IRA”;
·
a person who acquired our Class A common shares pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
·
a person that owns or is deemed to own ten percent or more of our stock (by vote or value); or
·
a person holding shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States.
If you are an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the
partner and your activities. Partnerships holding Class A common shares and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income
tax consequences of holding and disposing of the Class A common shares.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code”), administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions, and final, temporary and
proposed Treasury regulations all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
You are a "U.S. Holder” if for U.S. federal income tax purposes you are a beneficial owner of Class A common shares and:
·
a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
·
a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or
·
an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.
Taxation of Distributions
The following is subject to the discussion in "—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below.
As discussed above under "Item 8. Financial Information—Dividends and Dividend Policy,” we do not currently intend to pay dividends. In the event that we pay dividends,
distributions paid on our Class A common shares, other than certain pro rata distributions of Class A common shares, will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax
purposes to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because we do not maintain
calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that distributions generally will be reported to you as dividends. Subject to
applicable limitations, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for taxation as "qualified dividend income” and therefore may be taxable at rates
applicable to long-term capital gains, provided the Class A common shares are treated as readily tradeable on an established securities market in the United States. You should
consult your tax adviser regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in your particular circumstances. The amount of any dividend will be treated as foreign-
source dividend income and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code. Dividends will be included in your
income on the date of receipt.
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As discussed in "—Cayman Island Tax Considerations,” there are currently no applicable withholding taxes under Cayman Island law. However, if any non-U.S. income taxes
were withheld from distributions on your Class A common shares, the amount of the withheld tax would be includible in your income as a dividend. Subject to applicable
limitations, some of which vary depending upon your circumstances, the non-U.S. withholding tax may be potentially creditable against your U.S. federal income tax liability.
Recently issued Treasury regulations impose additional requirements for non-U.S. taxes to be eligible for foreign tax credit, and we cannot assure you that any non-U.S. income
taxes would be creditable against your U.S. federal income tax liability. Subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law, you may be able to elect to deduct otherwise
creditable withholding taxes. Even if the non-U.S. withholding taxes are not creditable, you may be entitled to deduct such taxes, subject to applicable limitations under the Code.
The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, and you should consult your tax adviser regarding the creditability or deductibility of non-U.S. taxes, if any, in your particular
circumstances (including any applicable limitations).
Sale or Other Disposition of Class A Common Shares
The following is subject to the discussion in "—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of a Class A common share will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital
gain or loss if you have held the Class A common share for more than one year. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between your tax basis in the Class A
common share disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition, in each case as determined in U.S. dollars. This gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source gain or loss for
foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations. If any non-U.S. taxes were imposed on gains from dispositions of the Class A common shares, it is expected that those taxes would not be creditable against your U.S.
federal income tax liability. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences if any non-U.S. income taxes were imposed on disposition
gains.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
Under the Code, we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain "look-through” rules with respect to subsidiaries, either (i) 75% or more of our
gross income consists of "passive income,” or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of,
"passive income.” For purposes of the above calculations, we will be treated as if we hold our proportionate share of the assets of, and receive directly our proportionate share of
the income of, any other corporation in which we directly or indirectly own at least 25%, by value, of the shares of such corporation. Passive income generally includes dividends,
interest, certain non-active rents or royalties and investment gains. Cash is generally a passive asset for these purposes. Goodwill is an active asset to the extent attributable to
activities that produce active income.
Based on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets, including goodwill (the implied value of which we estimate based on the price of our Class A
common shares), we believe that we were not a PFIC for the taxable year of 2022. However, because we hold a substantial amount of cash (relative to the assets shown on our
balance sheet) and because our PFIC status for any taxable year will depend on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which may
be determined, in part, by reference to the market price of our Class A common shares, which could be volatile), there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable
year. If our Class A common share price declines while we continue to hold a substantial amount of cash for any taxable year, our risk of being or becoming a PFIC will increase. In
addition, as we continue to expand our business through acquisitions and organically, our risk of becoming a PFIC will increase if we engage in activities that generate substantial
passive income. Moreover, the extent to which our goodwill will be treated as an active asset is not entirely clear. If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold
Class A common shares, we generally would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to you for all succeeding years during which you hold Class A common shares, even if
we ceased to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status.
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If we were a PFIC for any taxable year and any of our subsidiaries or other companies in which we owned or were treated as owning equity interests were also a PFIC (any
such entity, a "Lower-tier PFIC”), you would be deemed to own a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of each Lower-tier PFIC and would be subject to U.S. federal
income tax according to the rules described in the subsequent paragraph on (i) certain distributions by a Lower-tier PFIC and (ii) dispositions of shares of Lower-tier PFICs, in each
case as if you held such shares directly, even though you would not receive the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions.
If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which you held any of our Class A common shares, you could be subject to adverse tax consequences. Generally, gain
recognized upon a disposition (including, under certain circumstances, a pledge) of Class A common shares would be allocated ratably over your holding period for the shares.
The amounts allocated to the taxable year of disposition and to years before we became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year
would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for that taxable year for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax on such
amount. Further, to the extent that distributions received on your Class A common shares in a taxable year exceeded 125% of the average of the annual distributions on those
shares during the preceding three taxable years or your holding period, whichever was shorter, the excess distributions would be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain,
described immediately above.
Alternatively, if we were a PFIC and if the Class A common shares were "regularly traded” on a "qualified exchange,” you could be eligible to make a mark-to- market election
that would result in tax treatment different from the general tax treatment for PFICs described above. The Class A common shares would be treated as "regularly traded” in any
calendar year in which more than a de minimis quantity of the Class A common shares were traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. The
Nasdaq, on which the Class A common shares are listed, is a qualified exchange for this purpose. Once made, the election cannot be revoked without the consent of the IRS unless
the shares cease to be marketable.
If you make the mark-to-market election, you generally will recognize as ordinary income any excess of the fair market value of your Class A common shares at the end of each
taxable year over their adjusted tax basis, and will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of any excess of the adjusted tax basis of the Class A common shares over their fair market
value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election). If you make the election, your
tax basis in your Class A common shares will be adjusted to reflect these income or loss amounts. Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of Class A common shares
in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as an ordinary loss (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously
included as a result of the mark-to-market election, with any excess treated as a capital loss). This election cannot be made with respect to any of our subsidiaries the shares of
which are not regularly traded. Accordingly, you may continue to be subject to tax under the PFIC excess distribution regime with respect to any lower-tier PFICs notwithstanding
your mark-to-market election for the Class A common shares.
We do not intend to provide information necessary for you to make a qualifying electing fund election which would result in alternative treatment.
In addition, if we were a PFIC for any taxable year in which we paid a dividend or for the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rates discussed above with respect to
dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders would not apply.
If you own Class A common shares during any year in which we are a PFIC, you generally must file annual reports on IRS Form 8621 (or any successor form) with respect to
us, generally with your federal income tax return for that year. A failure to file one or more of these forms as required may toll the running of the statute of limitations in respect of
each of your taxable years for which such form is required to be filed. As a result, the taxable years with respect to which you fail to file the form may remain open to assessment by
the IRS.
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You should consult your tax adviser regarding whether we are a PFIC and the potential application of the PFIC rules.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information
reporting, and may be subject to backup withholding, unless (i) you are a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, you provide a correct
taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a refund or credit against your U.S. federal
income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Financial Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals (and certain specified entities) may be required to report information relating to their ownership of Class A common shares, or non-
U.S. accounts through which Class A common shares are held. You should consult your tax adviser regarding your reporting obligations with respect to the Class A common
shares.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information
with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F within four months from the end of each of our fiscal years, and reports on Form 6-K. You can read our SEC filings over the
Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. You may obtain copies of these documents upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the
public reference room.
I. Subsidiary Information
See note 2.2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for a description of the Company’s subsidiaries.
J. Annual Report to Security Holders
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business, including the effects of interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations. We monitor market,
credit and operational risks in line with the objectives in capital management, supported by the oversight of our Board of Directors, in decisions related to capital management and
to ensure their consistency with our objectives and assessment of risks. Information relating to quantitative and qualitative disclosures about these market risks is described
below.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The Company’s exposure
to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Company’s cash equivalents and financial investments classified as restricted cash with floating interest rates
and accounts payable to selling shareholders.
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The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in the current interest rates on cash equivalents, loans and financing, accounts payable to
selling shareholders and notes payable. With all variables held constant, the Company’s income before income taxes is affected through the impact on floating interest rate, as
follows:
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Index – % per year
Base rate
(amounts in R$ thousands, unless otherwise stated)
Cash equivalents
1,011,126
99.21% CDI
136,928
Debentures
(499,839)
CDI + 1.80%
(77,225)
Loans and financing
(518,134)
CDI + 1.90%
(80,570)
Loans and financing
(32,252)
CDI + 1.75%
(4,966)
Loans and financing
(8,418)
TJLP
(620)
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
(491,143)
CDI
(67,041)
Notes payable
(62,176)
IPCA
(3,600)
Net exposure
(97,094)
Increase in basis points
+75
+150
(amounts in R$ thousands, unless otherwise stated)
Effect on profit before tax
(4,504)
(9,010)
For further information, see note 13.4.1 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Foreign Currency Risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of an exposure will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. Our exposure to the risk of
changes in foreign exchange rates relates to cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars in the amount of R$24.4 million as of December 31, 2022. See note 13.4.1 to our
audited consolidated financial statements for a sensitivity analysis of the impact of a hypothetical 10% change in the exchange rate variation on our cash and cash equivalents as
of December 31, 2022.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument or customer contract, leading to a financial loss. We are exposed to credit risk
from our operating activities (primarily trade receivables) and from our financing activities, including cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. We manage customer credit
risk based on the established policy, procedures and control relating to customer credit risk management. Outstanding customer receivables are regularly monitored. Credit risk
from balances with banks and financial institutions is managed by our treasury department in accordance with our policy. Investments of surplus funds are made only with
approved counterparties and within limits assigned to each counterparty.
Our maximum exposure to credit risk for the components of the statements of financial position as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 is the carrying amounts of our financial
assets. For more information, see note 13.4.2 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity Risk
Our management is responsible for monitoring liquidity risk. To this end, management regularly reviews the risk and maintains appropriate reserves, including bank credit
facilities with first-tier financial institutions. Management also continuously monitors projected and actual cash flows and the combination of the maturity profiles of the financial
assets and liabilities. The main requirements for financial resources used by us arise from the need to make payments for suppliers, operating expenses, labor and social
obligations, loans and financing and accounts payable to selling shareholders.
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For more information, see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations.”
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
A. Debt Securities
Not applicable.
B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable.
C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
D. American Depositary Shares
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
A. Defaults
No matters to report.
B. Arrears and delinquencies
No matters to report.
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
A. Material modifications to instruments
Not applicable.
B. Material modifications to rights
Not applicable.
C. Withdrawal or substitution of assets
Not applicable.
D. Change in trustees or paying agents
Not applicable.
E. Use of proceeds
On July 19, 2019, our registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No 333-232309), as amended, was declared effective by the SEC for our initial public offering of our Class A
common shares, pursuant to which we sold a total of 15,805,841 Class A common shares, par value $0.00005 per share, at a public offering price of US$19.00 per share. BofA
Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and UBS Securities LLC, Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. acted as the representatives of the underwriters in our initial public offering. We
received approximately US$242.7 million of net proceeds from our initial public offering (i.e., after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses).
On February 6, 2020, our registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No 333-236246), as amended, was declared effective by the SEC for a public offering of our Class A common
shares, pursuant to which we sold a total of 3,260,480 Class A common shares, par value $0.00005 per share, at a public offering price of US$27.50 per share. BofA Securities, Inc.,
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and UBS Securities LLC, Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. acted as the representatives of the underwriters of this offering. We received approximately
US$86.6 million of net proceeds from our follow-on offering (i.e., after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses).
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
A. Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our "disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of December 31, 2022. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and
procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and
procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon our evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2022 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in
the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and
that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
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B. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Our internal
control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published
financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.
In accordance with guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, companies are permitted to exclude acquisitions from their final assessment of internal
control over financial reporting for the first fiscal year in which the acquisition occurred. As such, our management’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting excluded
the internal control activities of Além da Medicina, acquired in March 2022, Cardiopapers, acquired in April 2022, and Glic, acquired in May 2022, as discussed in note 5 to our
audited consolidated financial statements. We have included the financial results of these in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Such entities
represented approximately (0.1)% and 0.2% of our equity and total assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2022 and 1.0% and (0.04)% of our revenue and net income, respectively,
for the year then ended.
Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, under the oversight of our board of directors, evaluated the effectiveness of
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013), or COSO 2013. Based on this assessment, management believes that, as of December
31, 2022, our internal control over financial reporting was effective, based on those criteria.
C. Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, which did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of
Além da Medicina, CardioPapers and Glic, has been audited by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. Ltda., or EY, the independent registered public accounting firm that
also audited our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year then ended. EY has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2022. Their attestation report on internal controls over financial reporting is included herein.
D. Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In the year ended December 31, 2022, we implemented Hyperion Financial Management, or Hyperion, our new consolidation and financial reporting management system and
also implemented all relevant internal controls over financial reporting relating to Hyperion. Except for the changes arising from the implementation of Hyperion, there were no
changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the year ended December 31, 2022
that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16. RESERVED
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The audit committee, which currently consists of Vanessa Claro Lopes, João Paulo Seibel de Faria and Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula, assists our board of directors in
overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. In addition, the audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. João Paulo Seibel de Faria serves as Chair of the audit committee. The
audit committee consists exclusively of members of our board of directors who are financially literate, and Vanessa Claro Lopes qualifies as "audit committee financial expert” as
defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F. Our board of directors has determined that Vanessa Claro Lopes, João Paulo Seibel de Faria and Miguel Filisbino Pereira de Paula satisfy the
"independence” requirements set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. For more information, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board
Practices—Board Committees—Audit Committee.”
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ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
Our activities are subject to a code of ethics, which is applicable to all our members and entities, including our directors, officers, managers, teachers and other staff (including
interns). Our code of ethics is also applicable to relevant third parties involved in our activities, such as suppliers, consultants and other service providers. Our code of ethics
describes our mission, vision and values and provides the relevant conduct standards that must be followed by our members and entities. It regulates our interactions with our
suppliers, students, clients, competitor suppliers and governmental entities and agents. Our code of ethics also sets forth fundamental rules of conduct related to the safeguarding
of our financial books and records, conflict of interest situations, the protection of our confidential information and assets and our compliance with applicable laws and relevant
information on whistleblowing procedures. The Code of Ethics is included as an exhibit to this annual report. We have also posted a copy of our code of business conduct and
ethics on our website at https://ir.afya.com.br/corporate-governance/documents-charters.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Ernst & Young Auditores
Independentes S.S. Ltda., our principal accountants, for the periods indicated. Our independent registered public accounting firm was Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes
S.S. Ltda. for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
(in R$ millions)
Audit fees (1)
6.9
6.3
Tax fees(2)
0.2
0.2
All other fees
0.1
—
Total fees
7.2
6.5
(1) Audit fees include fees for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements; audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, audit of statutory
financial statements of subsidiaries; review of our interim financial statements, and audit of financial statements of acquired businesses.
(2) Tax fees consist of fees for services rendered in connection with the review of our ECF (Escrituração Contábil Fiscal) Brazilian tax reporting.
The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. Ltda., including audit services,
audit-related services, tax services and other services as described above, other than those for de minimus services that are approved by the audit committee prior to the
completion of the audit.
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
We are relying on the exemption under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A)(2) of the Exchange Act, which provides that a minority of the members of the listed issuer’s audit committee
may be exempt from the independence requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of Rule 10A-3 for one year from the date of effectiveness of the registration statement covering an initial
public offering of securities listed by the issuer. Our audit committee currently comprises three directors, all of whom are independent directors.
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We do not believe that our reliance on the temporary exemption permitted by Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A)(2) materially adversely affects the ability of our audit committee to act
independently or to satisfy the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Our audit committee will consist solely of independent directors within one year of our initial
public offering.
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Set forth below, in tabular format, is disclosure on the repurchase of our Class A common shares by us or on our behalf, or by or on behalf of an "affiliated purchaser” (as
defined under Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act), for the year ended December 31, 2022:
Shares Repurchased by the Company
Period
Total Number of Shares
Purchased (1)
Average Price Paid
per Share
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (2)
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar Value) of
Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased under the Plans or
Programs
January 1 to January 31, 2022
310,903
R$77.85
310,903
1,820,455
February 1 to February 28, 2022
736,379
R$73.81
736,379
1,084,076
March 1 to March 31, 2022
157,142
R$64.12
157,142
926,934
April 1 to April 30, 2022
833,065
R$68.00
833,065
93,869
May 1 to May 31, 2022
93,869
R$75.22
93,869
—
June 1 to June 30, 2022
—
—
—
—
July 1 to July 31, 2022
—
—
—
—
August 1 to August 31, 2022
—
—
—
—
September 1 to September 30, 2022
—
—
—
—
October 1 to October 31, 2022
—
—
—
—
November 1 to November 30, 2022
—
—
—
—
December 1 to December 31, 2022
—
—
—
—
Total
2,131,358
R$71.48
2,131,358
(1) For more information on our share repurchase programs, see "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Share Repurchases.”
(2) The second share repurchase program of 1,383,108 Class A common shares, which was publicly announced on October 27, 2021, commenced on October 28, 2021 and was
completed by January 14, 2022. The third share repurchase program of 1,874,457 Class A common shares, which was publicly announced on January 27, 2022, commenced on
January 27, 2022 and was completed by May 4, 2022.
Shares Purchased by Bertelsmann
Period
Total Number of Shares
Purchased(1)
Average Price Paid
per Share(2)
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs(3)
Maximum Number (or
Approximate R$ Value) of
Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased under the Plans or
Programs(2)
January 1 to January 31, 2022
—
—
—
—
February 1 to February 28, 2022
—
—
—
—
March 1 to March 31, 2022
—
—
—
—
April 1 to April 30, 2022
—
—
—
—
May 1 to May 31, 2022
6,350,189
R$139.82
N/A
N/A
June 1 to June 30, 2022
153,244
R$52.70
153,244
R$665,045,553
July 1 to July 31, 2022
827,929
R$50.11
827,929
R$623,561,726
August 1 to August 31, 2022
1,184,475
R$64.37
1,184,475
R$547,321,184
September 1 to September 30, 2022
1,050,681
R$72.17
1,050,681
R$471,488,303
October 1 to October 31, 2022
1,126,311
R$72.40
1,126,311
R$389,939,841
November 1 to November 30, 2022
1,431,069
R$81.20
1,431,069
R$273,735,357
December 1 to December 31, 2022
1,175,863
R$79.31
1,175,863
R$180,473,942
Total
13,299,761
R$103.80
6,949,572
(1) On May 4, 2022, Bertelsmann acquired 6,000,000 Class B common shares from the Esteves Family for a per share price of US$26.90. See Amendments No. 3 and 4 to the reports
on Schedule 13D filed by Bertelsmann with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and May 4, 2022, respectively. On May 23, 2022, Bertelsmann purchased 350,189 Class A common shares
from certain management members of the Company for a per share price of US$25.00. See Amendment No. 5 to the report on Schedule 13D filed by Bertelsmann with the SEC
on May 23, 2022.
(2) For convenience purposes only, amounts in reais in this column have been converted from U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of R$5.218 to US$1.00, the commercial selling
rate for U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022, as reported by the Central Bank. These translations should not be considered representations that any such amounts have been,
could have been or could be converted at that or any other exchange rate.
(3) On May 26, 2022, Bertelsmann entered into a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act with an unaffiliated third-party broker (the "Bertelsmann Existing
Trading Plan”), which was publicly announced on May 27, 2022. Under the Bertelsmann Existing Trading Plan, the broker is authorized and directed to purchase Class A
common shares of the Company in open market transactions on behalf of Bertelsmann, subject to certain conditions, with an aggregate purchase price of up to US$129.0
million, beginning on June 27, 2022, until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or September 25, 2023, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. See
Amendment No. 6 to the report on Schedule 13D filed by Bertelsmann with the SEC on May 27, 2022. On December 15, 2022, Bertelsmann entered into an amendment to the
Bertelsmann Existing Trading Plan (the "Bertelsmann Trading Plan Amendment”), which was publicly announced on December 16, 2022. Under the Bertelsmann Trading Plan
Amendment, the broker is authorized and directed to purchase an additional number of Class A common shares of the Company in open market transactions on behalf of
Bertelsmann, subject to certain conditions, with an aggregate purchase price of up to US$200.0 million. Such additional purchases may only commence once the purchases
under the Bertelsmann Existing Trading Plan have been completed but in no event before January 16, 2023. In addition, the Bertelsmann Trading Plan Amendment extended the
term of the Bertelsmann Existing Trading Plan to May 31, 2024, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. See Amendment No. 13 to the report on Schedule 13D
filed by Bertelsmann with the SEC on December 16, 2022.
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ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
None.
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Cayman Islands law restricts transactions between a company and its directors unless there are provisions in the Articles of Association which provide a mechanism to
alleviate possible conflicts of interest. Additionally, Cayman Islands law imposes on directors’ duties of care and skill and fiduciary duties to the companies which they serve.
Under our Articles of Association, a director must disclose the nature and extent of his interest in any contract or arrangement, and following such disclosure and subject to any
separate requirement under applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting, the interested director may vote in
respect of any transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested. The interested director shall be counted in the quorum at such meeting and the resolution may be
passed by a majority of the directors present at the meeting.
Subject to the foregoing and our Articles of Association, our directors may exercise all the powers of Afya to vote compensation to themselves or any member of their body in
the absence of an independent quorum. Our Articles of Association provide that, in the event a Compensation Committee is established, it shall be made up of such number of
independent directors as is required from time to time by the Nasdaq rules (or as otherwise may be required by law). We currently have no intention to establish a Compensation
Committee.
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As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow home country practice in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance rules, subject to certain requirements. We
currently rely, and will continue to rely, on the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to the following rules:
·
Nasdaq Rule 5605(b), which requires that independent directors comprise a majority of a company’s board of directors. As allowed by the laws of the Cayman Islands,
independent directors do not comprise a majority of our board of directors.
·
Nasdaq Rule 5605(e)(1), which requires that a company have a nominations committee comprised solely of "independent directors” as defined by Nasdaq. As allowed by
the laws of the Cayman Islands, we do not have a nominations committee nor do we have any current intention to establish one.
·
Nasdaq Rule 5605(d) & (e), which require that compensation for our executive officers and selection of our director nominees be determined by a majority of independent
directors. As allowed by the laws of the Cayman Islands, we do not have a nomination and corporate governance committee or remuneration committee nor do we have
any current intention to establish either.
·
Nasdaq Rule 5635, which requires an issuer to obtain shareholder approval prior to an issuance of securities (in certain circumstances) in connection with certain events,
including: (i) the acquisition of the stock or assets of another company; (ii) equity-based compensation of officers, directors, employees or consultants; (iii) a change of
control; and (iv) private placements. Cayman Islands law does not require shareholder approval prior to an issuance of securities to the extent the securities are
authorized.
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have responded to Item 18 in lieu of this item.
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
See our consolidated financial statements beginning on page F-1.
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1 Memorandum and Articles of Association of Afya (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on July 9,
2019, File No. 333-232309).
AFYA LIMITED
By:
/s/ Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Name: Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Title: Chief Executive Officer
By:
/s/ Luis André Carpintero Blanco
Name: Luis André Carpintero Blanco
Title: Chief Financial Officer
1.2 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Afya adopted on July 23, 2021, effective as of August 5, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 1.2 to the annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2021).
1.3 Certificate of Designations of Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares of Afya dated May 3, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the
Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 3, 2021).
1.4* Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Afya adopted on April 29, 2022, effective as of May 4, 2022.
2.1* Description of Securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
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4.1 † English translation of Purchase Agreement dated as of January 11, 2018, among Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves, NRE Participações S.A.
and BR Health Participações S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on July 9, 2019, File No.
333-232309).
4.2 † English translation of Purchase Agreement dated as of November 27, 2018, among NRE Participações S.A., JC JOINT Fundo de Investimento em Participações
Multiestratégia, Breno Miranda Trabulo Pinheiro Correia and Cristina Maria Miranda de Sousa (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement
on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on July 9, 2019, File No. 333-232309).
4.3 † English translation of Purchase Agreement dated as of December 5, 2018, among NRE Participações S.A., João Carlos Ribeiro Pedroso, Leoni Margarida Bertolin, José Carlos
Januário, Ricardo Pedroso, Daiane Pedroso Canto and RD Administração e Participação Ltda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement
on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on July 9, 2019, File No. 333-232309).
4.4 † English translation of Investment and Purchase Agreement dated as of March 29, 2019, among Afya Participações S.A. (formerly NRE Participações S.A.), BR Health
Participações S.A. and Guardaya Empreendimentos e Participações S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed
with the SEC on July 9, 2019, File No. 333-232309).
4.5 English translation of Bank Note (Cédula de Crédito Bancário) issued by Afya Participações S.A. on September 23, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to
the annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2021).
8.1* List of Subsidiaries.
11.1 English translation of the Code of Ethics of Afya (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on June 24,
2019, File No. 333-232309).
12.1* Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
12.2* Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
13.1* Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
13.2* Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
23.1* Consent of Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. Ltda.
101.INS* Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104* Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document).
*
Filed herewith.
† Certain provisions, exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K.
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SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report
on Form 20-F on its behalf.
Date: April 28, 2023
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited Consolidated Statements—Afya Limited
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 1448)
F-1
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2022 and 2021
F-5
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
F-6
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
F-7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
F-8
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
F-9
Afya Limited
Consolidated financial statements
as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and
for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020-
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Afya Limited
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Afya Limited (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related
consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022,
and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board - IASB.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 20, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion. thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements
based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with
the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to
assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such
procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that
our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be
communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially
challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial
statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the
account or disclosure to which it relates.
F-1
Business combinations
Description of the
Matter
As described in Note 5 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Afya Participações
S.A., completed the acquisition of three entities during the year ended December 31, 2022 for a total aggregated purchase consideration of
R$99,399 thousand. Such transactions were accounted for as business combinations, in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 3
Business Combinations, and the Company estimated the fair value of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed for each one of those
acquisitions, including acquired intangible assets.
Auditing the Company's accounting for such acquisitions was complex and involved a higher degree of subjective auditor judgement due to
the underlying significant assumptions in the Company’s determination of the fair value of identified intangible assets of R$64,349 thousand,
which consisted mainly of customer relationships, trademark, educational content, developed technology and copyrights. The significant
estimation uncertainty was primarily due to the sensitivity of the respective fair values to underlying assumptions about the future
performance of the acquired businesses. The Company used valuation techniques to measure customer relationships, trademark,
educational content, developed technology and copyrights. The significant assumptions used to estimate the value of these intangible
assets included discount rates and certain assumptions that form the basis of the forecasted results, such as revenue growth rates,
projected profit margins and royalty rates. These significant assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic
events and market conditions.
How We Addressed
the Matter in Our
Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company's controls over accounting for
business combinations, including controls over the recognition and measurement of identifiable intangible assets. For example, we tested
controls over management's evaluation of underlying assumptions in the valuation models applied, and we also tested management's
controls over the data used in the valuation models.
To test the estimated fair value of the intangible assets acquired, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, evaluating the
valuation methodology and the significant assumptions used by the Company; obtaining the reports prepared by the Company´s valuation
specialist; testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the estimation of fair value of intangible assets acquired;
involving our valuation specialists to assist with the evaluation of the methodology and key assumptions used by the Company and
comparing the key assumptions used to the ones used by the Company in relation to prior acquisitions and available third-party industry
information. We also assessed the Company’s disclosures in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG
Auditores Independentes S/S Ltda
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
March 20, 2023
F-2
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Afya Limited
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Afya Limited’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, the Afya
Limited (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on the COSO criteria.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of BMV Atividades Médicas Ltda. ("Além da Medicina”), Cardiopapers
Soluções Digitais Ltda. ("CardioPapers”) and Quasar Telemedicina Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Computacionais Ltda. ("Glic”), which are included in the 2022
consolidated financial statements of the Company and constituted 0.2% and (0.1%) of our equity and total assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2022 and 1.0%
and (0.04%) of revenue and net income, respectively, for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also did not include
an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Além da Medicina, CardioPapers and Glic.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s consolidated
statements of financial position as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in equity
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and our report dated March 20, 2023 expressed an
unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
F-3
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating
the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions
and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with
authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with
the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG
Auditores Independentes S.S. Ltda.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
March 20, 2023
F-4
Afya Limited
Consolidated statements of financial position
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021
(In thousands of Brazilian reais)
Notes
2022
2021
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
6
1,093,082
748,562
Trade receivables
7
452,831
378,351
Inventories
12,190
11,827
Recoverable taxes
27,809
25,579
Other assets
9
51,745
42,533
Total current assets
1,637,657
1,206,852
Non-current assets
Trade receivables
7
42,568
27,442
Other assets
9
191,756
180,306
Investment in associate
10
53,907
48,477
Property and equipment
11
542,087
419,808
Right-of-use assets
13.2.2
690,073
663,686
Intangible assets
12
4,041,491
3,900,835
Total non-current assets
5,561,882
5,240,554
Total assets
7,199,539
6,447,406
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade payables
71,482
59,098
Loans and financing
13.2.1
145,202
128,720
Lease liabilities
13.2.2
32,459
24,955
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
13.2.3
261,711
239,849
Notes payable
13.2.4
62,176
14,478
Advances from customers
133,050
114,585
Labor and social obligations
154,518
131,294
Taxes payable
26,221
26,715
Income taxes payable
16,151
11,649
Other liabilities
2,719
15,163
Total current liabilities
905,689
766,506
Non-current liabilities
Loans and financing
13.2.1
1,737,699
1,246,156
Lease liabilities
13.2.2
737,066
689,130
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
13.2.3
266,967
439,977
Notes payable
13.2.4
-
58,248
Taxes payable
92,888
96,598
Provision for legal proceedings
23
195,854
148,287
Other liabilities
13,218
2,486
Total non-current liabilities
3,043,692
2,680,882
Total liabilities
3,949,381
3,447,388
Equity
Share capital
17
17
17
Additional paid-in capital
2,375,344
2,375,344
Share-based compensation reserve
123,538
94,101
Treasury shares
(304,947)
(152,630)
Retained earnings
1,004,886
631,317
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
3,198,838
2,948,149
Non-controlling interests
51,320
51,869
Total equity
3,250,158
3,000,018
Total liabilities and equity
7,199,539
6,447,406
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
Afya Limited
Consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
(In thousands of Brazilian reais, except for earnings per share information)
Notes
2022
2021
2020
Revenue
19
2,329,057
1,719,371
1,201,191
Cost of services
20
(859,552)
(652,300)
(434,654)
Gross profit
1,469,505
1,067,071
766,537
General and administrative expenses
20
(798,153)
(622,615)
(402,855)
Other expenses, net
(7,252)
(3,561)
(347)
Operating income
664,100
440,895
363,335
Finance income
21
102,042
64,566
62,290
Finance expenses
21
(349,893)
(243,796)
(98,269)
Finance result
(247,851)
(179,230)
(35,979)
Share of income of associate
10
12,184
11,797
7,698
Income before income taxes
428,433
273,462
335,054
Income taxes expenses
22
(35,677)
(31,179)
(27,067)
Net income
392,756
242,283
307,987
Other comprehensive income
-
-
-
Total comprehensive income
392,756
242,283
307,987
Income attributable to
Equity holders of the parent
373,569
223,326
292,075
Non-controlling interests
19,187
18,957
15,912
Total comprehensive income
392,756
242,283
307,987
Basic earnings per share
Per common share
18
4.14
2.39
3.15
Diluted earnings per share
Per common share
18
4.12
2.37
3.12
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Afya Limited
Consolidated statements of changes in equity
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
(In thousands of Brazilian reais)
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
Share
capital
Additional
paid-in
capital
Treasury
shares
Share-based
compensation
reserve
Retained
earnings
Total
Non-
controlling
interests
Total
equity
Balances at December 31, 2019
17
1,931,047
-
18,114
115,916
2,065,094
48,632
2,113,726
Net income
-
-
-
-
292,075
292,075
15,912
307,987
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
-
292,075
292,075
15,912
307,987
Capital increase
-
17,531
-
-
-
17,531
-
17,531
Issuance of common shares in follow-on public offering
-
389,170
-
-
-
389,170
-
389,170
Shares issuance cost
-
(19,704)
-
-
-
(19,704)
-
(19,704)
Share-based compensation
-
5,444
-
32,610
-
38,054
-
38,054
Dividends declared
-
-
-
-
-
-
(12,984)
(12,984)
Balances at December 31, 2020
17
2,323,488
-
50,724
407,991
2,782,220
51,560
2,833,780
Net income
-
-
-
-
223,326
223,326
18,957
242,283
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
-
223,326
223,326
18,957
242,283
Capital increase
-
74,500
-
-
-
74,500
-
74,500
Treasury shares
-
-
(213,722)
-
-
(213,722)
-
(213,722)
Treasury shares transferred from exercise of options
-
(21,861)
55,197
-
-
33,336
-
33,336
Treasury shares transferred from shares contribution on business combination
-
(783)
5,895
-
-
5,112
-
5,112
Share-based compensation
-
-
-
43,377
-
43,377
-
43,377
Dividends declared
-
-
-
-
-
-
(18,648)
(18,648)
Balances at December 31, 2021
17
2,375,344
(152,630)
94,101
631,317
2,948,149
51,869
3,000,018
Net income
-
-
-
-
373,569
373,569
19,187
392,756
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
-
373,569
373,569
19,187
392,756
Treasury shares
-
-
(152,317)
-
-
(152,317)
-
(152,317)
Share-based compensation
-
-
-
29,437
-
29,437
-
29,437
Dividends declared
-
-
-
-
-
-
(19,736)
(19,736)
Balances at December 31, 2022
17
2,375,344
(304,947)
123,538
1,004,886
3,198,838
51,320
3,250,158
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-7
Afya Limited
Consolidated statements of cash flows
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
(In thousands of Brazilian reais)
Notes
2022
2021
2020
Operating activities
Income before income taxes
428,433
273,462
335,054
Adjustments to reconcile income before income taxes
Depreciation and amortization
20
206,220
154,220
108,744
Write-off of property and equipment
1,697
1,604
-
Write-off of intangible assets
25
2,374
-
Allowance for doubtful accounts
7
42,708
47,819
32,081
Share-based compensation expense
20
31,274
43,377
32,610
Net foreign exchange differences
21
852
17,973
4,613
Net loss (gain) on derivatives
-
-
(20,739)
Accrued interest
21
200,081
108,437
25,543
Interest on lease liability
13.2.2, 13,5, 21
88,571
67,212
44,458
Share of income of associate
10
(12,184)
(11,797)
(7,698)
Provision for legal proceedings
(766)
10,664
5,354
Changes in assets and liabilities
Trade receivables
(129,165)
(79,665)
(164,286)
Inventories
(363)
(3,720)
(3,110)
Recoverable taxes
(2,230)
(2,327)
(13,709)
Other assets
(1,048)
(19,425)
(23,902)
Trade payables
9,975
14,479
4,475
Taxes payables
(3,915)
(14,902)
(552)
Advances from customers
8,387
36,009
(1,951)
Labor and social obligations
21,247
23,449
11,125
Other liabilities
(12,811)
(2,693)
22,771
Total
876,988
666,550
390,881
Income taxes paid
(33,089)
(35,683)
(19,374)
Net cash flows from operating activities
843,899
630,867
371,507
Investing activities
Acquisition of property and equipment
11
(168,132)
(125,869)
(89,832)
Acquisition of intangibles assets
(128,892)
(150,931)
(47,753)
Dividends received
10
6,754
11,770
-
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
(301,199)
(1,017,125)
(919,965)
Restricted cash
-
8,103
14,788
Net cash flows used in investing activities
(591,469)
(1,274,052)
(1,042,762)
Financing activities
Payments of loans and financing
13.5
(118,378)
(158,076)
(155,090)
Issuance of loans and financing
13.5
496,885
809,539
605,041
Payments of lease liabilities
13.2.2, 13.5
(113,512)
(87,751)
(55,455)
Treasury shares
17
(152,317)
(213,722)
-
Capital increase
-
-
5,444
Proceeds from shares public offering
-
-
389,170
Share issuance costs
-
-
(19,704)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
-
33,336
-
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
13.5
(19,736)
(18,648)
(12,984)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities
92,942
364,678
756,422
Net foreign exchange differences
21
(852)
(17,973)
16,666
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
344,520
(296,480)
101,833
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
6
748,562
1,045,042
943,209
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
6
1,093,082
748,562
1,045,042
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-8
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Corporate information
Afya Limited ("Afya”), collectively with its subsidiaries referred to as the "Company”, is a holding company incorporated under the laws of the
Cayman Islands on March 22, 2019. Afya Limited became the holding company of Afya Participações S.A. (hereafter referred to as "Afya Brazil”),
formerly denominated NRE Participações S.A., through the completion of the corporate reorganization in July 2019. Up to that date, Afya Limited did
not have commenced operations and had only nominal assets and liabilities and no material contingent liabilities or commitments. Accordingly, Afya
Limited’s consolidated financial information substantially reflects the operations of Afya Brazil after the corporate reorganization. The Company
completed its initial public offering (IPO) on July 19, 2019, and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol "AFYA.”
The Company is formed by a network of higher education and post-graduate institutions focused on medicine located in 18 Brazilian states forming
the largest educational group by the number of medical seats in the country. In non-regulated education, Afya provides services that comprise the
development and sale of electronically distributed educational courses on medicine science, related printed and soft skills educational content. The
Company also offers solutions to empower the physicians in their daily routine including supporting clinic decisions through mobile app
subscription, delivering practice management tools through a SaaS ("Software as a Service”) model and supporting the patient-physician
relationship.
On February 23, 2022, Afya announced that the Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education ("MEC”)
authorized the operations of the medical schools in Abaetetuba, in the State of Pará, and Itacoatiara, in the State of Amazonas, both under Mais
Médicos II program. With the authorizations, Afya reaches its third and fourth authorized schools to start operating under the Mais Medicos II
program. Each medical school will contribute with 50 seats.
On March 16, 2022, MEC authorized the operations of the medical schools in Bragança, in the State of Pará, and Manacapuru, in the State of
Amazonas, both under Mais Médicos II program. With the authorizations, Afya reaches its fifth and sixth authorized schools to start operating under
the Mais Medicos II program. Each medical school will contribute with 50 seats.
On March 18, 2022, Afya announced that MEC authorized the increase of 28 seats of Centro Universitário São Lucas, in Ji-Parana located in the
state of Rondônia. The earn-out related to the seats approval is R$800 per seat, adjusted by the Interbank Certificates of Deposit ("CDI” or "CDI
rate”) rate from the closing until the payment date, of which: (i) 50% was paid in April 2022, and (ii) 50% is payable in cash in two equal installments
through 2024.
On December 29, 2022, Afya announced that MEC authorized the increase of 64 medical seats of Faculdade Santo Agostinho, in the city of
Itabuna, located in the state of Bahia. No additional commitment is required regarding this authorization.
Issuance of additional common shares
On February 6, 2020, Afya completed its follow-on public offering of 3,019,928 Class A common shares offered by the Company and 9,406,812
Class A common shares offered by the selling shareholders.
The offering price was US$ 27.50 per Class A common share and gross proceeds of US$ 83,048 thousand (R$ 358,286). The Company received
net proceeds of US$ 78,846 thousand (R$ 339,648), after deducting US$ 4,202 thousand (R$ 18,638) in underwriting discounts, commissions and
other offering expenses.
F-9
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
On March 10, 2020, the underwriters exercised their option to acquire additional 240,552 Class A common shares at the offering price, resulting in
gross proceeds of US$ 6,615 thousand (R$ 30,884). The net proceeds from the additional shares were US$ 6,387 thousand (R$ 29,819), after
deducting U$ 228 thousand (R$ 1,066) in underwriting discounts and commissions.
Afya transferred US$ 68,060 thousand (R$ 294,312) of the net proceeds to bank accounts in Brazil with an increase in the capital of Afya Brazil.
These deposits were invested in first-line financial institutions in Brazil and denominated in Brazilian reais.
Bertelsmann Increases Stake in Afya
On May 5, 2022, Afya was notified of the closing of the transaction where Bertelsmann SE& Co. KGaA, or "Bertelsmann” acquired 6,000,000 Class
B common shares of Afya at the purchase price of US$26.90 per share, from Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves
and NRE Capital Ventures Ltd (together with Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares Esteves, the "Esteves Family”). As a
result of the closing of the transaction, Bertelsmann and the Esteves family will beneficially own ~57.5% and ~33.0% voting interest, and ~31.0%
and ~18.0% of the total shares, respectively, in Afya. The transaction has no effect on Afya’s Consolidated financial statements.
Acquisitions in 2022
(i) On March 4, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired BMV Atividades Médicas Ltda. ("Além da Medicina”). Além da Medicina is a medical content online
platform for physicians and medical students that provides educational tools besides technical medical content that can assist them throughout
their careers. Its contents include mentoring for residency, soft skills and finance, accounting, and investment basics for physicians. See Note 5.
(ii) On April 5, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired Cardiopapers Soluções Digitais Ltda. ("CardioPapers”). CardioPapers is the main medical content and
education platform in the Cardiology field, offering courses and books developed by physicians and for physicians, covering all phases of the
medical career, aligned with Afya's overall business strategy. See Note 5.
(iii) On May 23, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired Quasar Telemedicina Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Computacionais Ltda. ("Glic”). Glic is a free
diabetes care and management app solution for physicians and patients that uses technology to improve diabetes education and daily routine
practices, connecting users, devices and healthcare providers. See Note 5.
COVID-19
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported to have emerged in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread to most
of the countries around the globe, including every state in Brazil. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19
outbreak a pandemic, and on March 20, 2020 the Brazilian federal government declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.
F-10
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Since March 17, 2020, there has been some interruption of our on-campus activities due to Brazilian government authorities’ mandatory lockdowns.
We managed to rapidly adapt our business to these unusual times, and although there has been an interruption of our on-campus activities, we are
offering our non-practical educational activities to our students through our online platform (rather than on-site). Regarding the offering of practical
classes, we quickly resumed our in-hospital and health care residency programs for fifth and sixth-year students, which represents the largest
portion of our practical curriculum. By the date of issuance of these financial statements all of the lockdown restrictions have been revoked by
Brazilian authorities in our campus locations and the Company has also successfully retaken all of its face to face operations.
During 2020, some of the Brazilian states issued decrees granting discounts to our students because of COVID-19. These mandatory discounts
have been suspended as their constitutionality has been challenged in the superior courts.
On November 18, 2021, the Brazilian Federal Court of Justice (STF) decided, by a majority of votes, that any lawsuit with decisions to apply linear
discounts in monthly tuition fees for private universities with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic are unconstitutional. Therefore, the Company shall
not apply linear discounts on any active monthly tuition fees that are related to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Regarding the discounts
granted by the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company is charging back the students as final legal decisions were given by the
Brazilian Federal Court of Justice.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company has invoiced R$9,926 from previous periods, net of discounts granted due to COVID-19 and
net of provisions, being the amount substantially arising from its subsidiary FCMPB, following a lower court decision that suspended the granted
discounts in favor of the Company but with restrictions on the collection in such invoices (R$ 33,081 discounts granted, net of discounts recovered,
for the year ended December 31, 2021). The outstanding balances are classified as accounts receivables.
Conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
As a result of the current geopolitical tensions and conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the recent recognition by Russia of the independence
of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the governments of the United States, the European
Union, Japan and other jurisdictions have recently announced the imposition of sanctions on certain industry sectors and parties in Russia, Belarus
and the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as enhanced export controls on certain products and industries. These and any additional
sanctions and export controls, as well as any counter responses by the governments of Russia or other jurisdictions, could adversely affect, directly
or indirectly, the global supply chain, with negative implications on the availability of raw materials, energy prices, and our customers, as well as the
local and global financial markets and financial services industry and the global economy in general.
As of the date of these financial statements, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not brought significant impact over Afya’s operations and
results.
F-11
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Significant accounting policies
2.1 Basis for preparation of the consolidated financial statements
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for derivative financial instruments and contingent
consideration (earn-outs) that have been measured at fair value.
Afya Limited is a holding company, as such the primary source of revenue derives from its interest on the operational companies in Brazil. As
result, the Brazilian Real has been assessed as the Company`s functional currency.
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Brazilian reais ("BRL” or "R$”), which is the Company’s functional and presentation
currency. All amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand.
These consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on
March 20, 2023.
F-12
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
2.2 Basis consolidation
The table below is a list of the Company’s subsidiaries and associate:
Direct and indirect interest
Name
Principal activities
Location
Investment type
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Afya Participações S.A. ("Afya Brazil”)
Holding
Nova Lima - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos Porto S.A. – ("ITPAC Porto”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Porto Nacional - TO
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos S.A. – ("ITPAC Araguaina”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Araguaína - TO
Subsidiary
100%
100%
União Educacional do Vale do Aço S.A. – ("UNIVAÇO”)
Medicine undergraduate degree program
Ipatinga - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
IPTAN - Instituto de Ensino Superior Presidente Tancredo de Almeida Neves S.A.
("IPTAN”)
Undergraduate degree programs
São João Del Rei - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto de Educação Superior do Vale do Parnaíba S.A. ("IESVAP”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Parnaíba - PI
Subsidiary
80%
80%
Centro de Ciências em Saúde de Itajubá S.A. ("CCSI”)
Medicine undergraduate degree program
Itajubá - MG
Subsidiary
60%
60%
Instituto de Ensino Superior do Piauí S.A. (”IESP”)
Undergraduate and graduate degree
programs
Teresina - PI
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Centro Integrado de Saúde de Teresina ("CIS”)
Outpatient care
Teresina - PI
Subsidiary
100%
100%
FADEP - Faculdade Educacional de Pato Branco Ltda. ("FADEP”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Pato Branco - PR
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Medcel Editora e Eventos S.A. ("Medcel”)
Medical education content
São Paulo - SP
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto Educacional Santo Agostinho S.A. ("FASA”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Montes Claros - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
ESMC Educação Superior Ltda. ("ESMC”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Montes Claros - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto de Pesquisa e Ensino Médico do Estado de Minas Gerais Ltda. ("IPEMED”)
Graduate
Belo Horizonte - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto Paraense de Educação e Cultura Ltda ("IPEC”)
Medicine degree programs
Marabá - PA
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Sociedade Universitária Redentor S.A. ("UniRedentor”)
Undergraduate and graduate degree
programs
Itaperuna - RJ
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Centro Universitário São Lucas Ltda. ("UniSL”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Porto Velho - RO
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Peb Med Instituição de Pesquisa Médica e Serviços Ltda ("PebMed”)
Content and clinical tools and online
platform
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Faculdade de Ensino Superior da Amazônia Reunida – ("FESAR”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Redenção – PA
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Centro Superior de Ciências da Saúde S/S Ltda. ("FCMPB”)
Medicine degree programs
João Pessoa – PB
Subsidiary
100%
100%
MedPhone Tecnologia em Saúde Ltda. ("MedPhone”) **
Content and clinical tools and online
platform
Recife – PE
Subsidiary
-
100%
iClinic Desenvolvimento de Software Ltda ("iClinic”)
Electronic Medical Record, Clinical
Management System
Ribeirão Preto - SP
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Medicinae Solutions S.A. ("Medicinae”)
Healthcare payments and financial
services
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Medical Harbour Aparelhos Médico Hospitalares e Serviços em Tecnologia Ltda. ("Medical
Harbour”)
Educational health and medical imaging
Florianópolis – SC
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Cliquefarma Drogarias Online Ltda.("Cliquefarma”)
Online platform
São Paulo – SP
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Shosp Tecnologia da Informação Ltda. ("Shosp”)
Electronic Medical Record, Clinical
Management System
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Sociedade Padrão de Educação Superior Ltda. ("UnifipMoc”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Montes Claros - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Nucleo de Atenção à Saúde e de Práticas Profissionalizantes ("NASPP)
Outpatient care
Montes Claros - MG
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Companhia Nilza Cordeiro Herdy de Educação e Cultura. ("Unigranrio”)
Undergraduate and graduate degree
programs
Duque de Caxias - RJ
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Policlínica e Centro de Estética Duque de Caxias Ltda. ("Policlínica”)
Outpatient care
Duque de Caxias - RJ
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Sociedade Educacional de Palhoça S/A Ltda. ("SOCIESP”)
Basic Education
Palhoça - SC
Subsidiary
100%
100%
Instituto de Ensino Superior de Palhoça S/S Ltda. ("IESP PALHOÇA”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Palhoça - SC
Subsidiary
100%
100%
RX PRO Soluções de Tecnologia Ltda. ("RX PRO”)
Marketing for pharmaceutical industry
São Paulo – SP
Subsidiary
100%
100%
RX PRO LOG Transporte e Logística Ltda. ("RX PRO LOG”)
Marketing for pharmaceutical industry
São Paulo – SP
Subsidiary
100%
100%
BMV Atividades Médicas Ltda. ("Além da Medicina”) *
Medical education content
São Paulo – SP
Subsidiary
100%
-
Cardiopapers Soluções Digitais Ltda ("CardioPapers”) *
Medical education content
Recife – PE
Subsidiary
100%
-
Quasar Telemedicina Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Computacionais Ltda. ("Glic”) *
Patient physician relationship
Barueri – SP
Subsidiary
100%
-
União Educacional do Planalto Central S.A. ("UEPC”)
Undergraduate degree programs
Brasília - DF
Associate
30%
30%
* See Note 5 for further details of the business combinations during 2022.
** Medphone was merged by Afya Participações in October 2022.
F-13
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The financial information of the acquired subsidiaries is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning on the respective
acquisition dates.
The Company consolidates the financial information for all entities it controls. Control is achieved when the Company is exposed to, or has rights, to
variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Consolidation
of a subsidiary begins when the Company obtains control over the subsidiary and it ceases when the Company loses control of the subsidiary.
Assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated financial
statements from the date the Company gains control until the date the Company ceases to control the subsidiary.
When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries in order to bring their accounting policies in line with the
Company’s accounting policies. All intra-group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions are
eliminated in full on consolidation.
A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction. If the Company loses control
over a subsidiary, it derecognizes the related assets (including goodwill), liabilities, non-controlling interest and other components of equity, while
any resulting gain or loss is recognized in the statement of income.
Non-controlling interests in the results and equity of subsidiaries are shown separately in the consolidated statements of financial position,
consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and consolidated statements of changes in equity.
2.3 Summary of significant accounting policies
This note provides a description of the significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements in
addition to other policies that have been disclosed in other notes to these consolidated financial statements. These policies have been consistently
applied to all periods presented.
The accounting policies have been consistently applied to all consolidated companies.
a) Business combinations and goodwill
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the
consideration transferred, which is measured at acquisition date fair value, and the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree. For each
business combination, the Company elects whether to measure the non-controlling interests in the acquiree at fair value or at the proportionate
share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred and included in general and administrative
expenses.
When the Company acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation in
accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions as of the acquisition date.
F-14
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Goodwill is initially measured at cost (being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the amount recognized for non-
controlling interests and any previous interest held over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed). If the fair value of the net assets
acquired is in excess of the aggregate consideration transferred, the Company re-assesses whether it has correctly identified all of the assets
acquired and all of the liabilities assumed and reviews the procedures used to measure the amounts to be recognized at the acquisition date. If the
reassessment still results in an excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over the aggregate consideration transferred, then the gain is
recognized in the consolidated statement of income.
After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill
acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Company’s cash-generating units that are expected to
benefit from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquire are assigned to those units.
Where goodwill has been allocated to a cash-generating unit (CGU) and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill associated
with the disposed operation is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on disposal. Goodwill disposed in
these circumstances is measured based on the relative values of the disposed operation and the portion of the cash-generating unit retained.
b) Current versus non-current classification
The Company presents assets and liabilities in the statement of financial position based on current/non-current classification. An asset is current
when it is:
·
Expected to be realized or intended to be sold or consumed in the normal operating cycle;
·
Held primarily for the purpose of trading;
·
Expected to be realized within twelve months after the reporting period; or
·
Cash or cash equivalent unless restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least twelve months after the reporting
period.
All other assets are classified as non-current.
A liability is current when:
·
It is expected to be settled in the normal operating cycle;
·
It is held primarily for the purpose of trading;
·
It is due to be settled within twelve months after the reporting period; or
·
There is no unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting period.
The Company classifies all other liabilities as non-current.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as non-current assets and liabilities.
F-15
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
c) Fair value measurement
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the
measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes
place either: (i) in the principal market for the asset or liability; or (ii) in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the
asset or liability.
The principal or the most advantageous market must be accessible by the Company.
The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability,
assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.
A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant's ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset
in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.
The Company uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value,
maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs.
All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the financial statements are categorized within the fair value hierarchy,
described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:
·
Level 1 — Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
·
Level 2 — Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly
observable.
·
Level 3 — Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.
For assets and liabilities that are recognized in the financial statements at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company determines whether
transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorization (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair
value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.
At each reporting date, the Company analyzes the movements in the values of assets and liabilities which are required to be remeasured or re-
assessed as per the Company’s accounting policies. For this analysis, the Company verifies the major inputs applied in the latest valuation by
agreeing the information in the valuation computation to contracts and other relevant documents.
The Company also compares the change in the fair value of each asset and liability with relevant external sources to determine whether the change
is reasonable.
For the purpose of fair value disclosures, the Company has determined classes of assets and liabilities on the basis of the nature, characteristics
and risks of the asset or liability and the level of the fair value hierarchy, as explained above.
F-16
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
d) Financial instruments – initial recognition and measurement
A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity.
i) Financial assets
Initial recognition and measurement
The classification of financial assets at initial recognition depends on the financial asset’s contractual cash flow characteristics and the
Company’s business model for managing them. With the exception of trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component or
for which the Company has applied the practical expedient, the Company initially measures a financial asset at its fair value plus, in the case of a
financial asset not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs. Trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component
or for which the Company has applied the practical expedient, are measured at the transaction price determined under IFRS 15.
In order for a financial asset to be classified and measured at amortized cost or fair value through OCI (Other Comprehensive Income), it needs
to give rise to cash flows that are "solely payments of principal and interest (SPPI)” on the principal amount outstanding. This assessment is
referred to as the SPPI test and is performed at an instrument level.
The Company’s business model for managing financial assets refers to how it manages its financial assets in order to generate cash flows. The
business model determines whether cash flows will result from collecting contractual cash flows, selling the financial assets, or both.
Purchases or sales of financial assets that require delivery of assets within a time frame established by regulation or convention in the market
place (regular way trades) are recognized on the trade date, i.e., the date that the Company commits to purchase or sell the asset.
Subsequent measurement
For purposes of subsequent measurement, financial assets are classified as: financial assets at amortized cost or financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss. There are no financial assets designated as fair value through OCI.
Financial assets at amortized cost
The Company measures financial assets at amortized cost if both of the following conditions are met:
• The financial asset is held within a business model with the objective to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, and
• The contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the
principal amount outstanding.
Financial assets at amortized cost are subsequently measured using the effective interest (EIR) method and are subject to impairment. Gains
and losses are recognized in the statement of income when the asset is derecognized, modified or impaired.
F-17
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss include financial assets held for trading, financial assets designated upon initial recognition at
fair value through profit or loss, or financial assets mandatorily required to be measured at fair value. Financial assets are classified as held for
trading if they are acquired for the purpose of selling or repurchasing in the near term. Derivatives, including separated embedded derivatives, are
also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as effective hedging instruments. Financial assets with cash flows that are not
solely payments of principal and interest are classified and measured at fair value through profit or loss, irrespective of the business model.
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are carried in the statement of financial position at fair value with net changes in fair value
recognized in the statement of income. This category includes derivative instruments.
Derecognition
A financial asset (or, where applicable, a part of a financial asset or part of a group of similar financial assets) is primarily derecognized (i.e.,
removed from the Company’s statement of financial position) when:
• The rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired; or
• The Company has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from the asset or has assumed an obligation to pay the received cash flows in full
without material delay to a third party under a ‘pass-through’ arrangement; and either (a) the Company has transferred substantially all the risks
and rewards of the asset, or (b) the Company has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, but has
transferred control of the asset.
When the Company has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from an asset or has entered into a pass-through arrangement, it evaluates
if, and to what extent, it has retained the risks and rewards of ownership. When it has neither transferred nor retained substantially all of the risks
and rewards of the asset, nor transferred control of the asset, the Company continues to recognize the transferred asset to the extent of its
continuing involvement. In that case, the Company also recognizes an associated liability. The transferred asset and the associated liability are
measured on a basis that reflects the rights and obligations that the Company has retained.
Continuing involvement that takes the form of a guarantee over the transferred asset is measured at the lower of the original carrying amount of
the asset and the maximum amount of consideration that the Company could be required to repay.
Impairment of financial assets
Further disclosures relating to impairment of financial assets are also provided in the following notes:
• Significant accounting estimates and assumptions – Note 3
• Trade receivables – Note 7
F-18
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The Company recognizes an allowance for expected credit losses (ECLs) for all debt instruments not held at fair value through profit or loss.
ECLs are based on the difference between the contractual cash flows due in accordance with the contract and the cash flows the Company
expects to receive, discounted at an approximation of the original effective interest rate. The expected cash flows will include cash flows from the
sale of collateral held or other credit enhancements that are integral to the contractual terms.
For trade receivables, the Company applies a simplified approach in calculating ECLs. Therefore, the Company does not track changes in credit
risk, but instead recognizes an allowance for credit losses based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting date. The Company has established a
provision matrix that is based on its historical credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the
economic environment.
The Company considers a financial asset to be in default when internal or external information indicates that the Company is unlikely to receive
the outstanding contractual amounts in full before considering any credit enhancements held by the Company. A financial asset is written off
when there is no reasonable expectation of recovering the contractual cash flows.
ii) Financial liabilities
Initial recognition and measurement
Financial liabilities are classified, at initial recognition, as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, loans and borrowings, payables, or
as derivatives designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge, as appropriate.
All financial liabilities are recognized initially at fair value and, in the case of loans and borrowings and payables, net of directly attributable
transaction costs.
The Company’s financial liabilities include trade payables, loans and financing, notes payable, lease liabilities, advances from costumers and
accounts payable to selling shareholders.
Subsequent measurement
The measurement of financial liabilities depends on their classification, as described below:
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss include financial liabilities held for trading and financial liabilities designated upon initial
recognition as at fair value through profit or loss.
Financial liabilities are classified as held for trading if they are incurred for the purpose of repurchasing in the near term. This category also
includes, when applicable, derivative financial instruments entered into by the Company that are not designated as hedging instruments in hedge
relationships as defined by IFRS 9. Gains or losses on liabilities held for trading are recognized in the statement of income.
Financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition at fair value through profit or loss are designated at the initial date of recognition, and only if
the criteria in IFRS 9 are satisfied.
F-19
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Loans and borrowings
After initial recognition, interest-bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the EIR method. Gains and
losses are recognized in the statement of income when the liabilities are derecognized as well as through the EIR amortization process.
Amortized cost is calculated by considering any discount or premium on acquisition and fees or costs that are an integral part of the EIR. The
EIR amortization is included as finance expenses in the statement of income.
Derecognition
A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires. When an existing financial liability
is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such
an exchange or modification is treated as the derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability. The difference in the
respective carrying amounts is recognized in the statement of income.
Offsetting of financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount is reported in the statement of financial position if there is a currently
enforceable legal right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, to realize the assets and settle the
liabilities simultaneously.
e) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position comprise cash at banks and on hand, and short-term financial investments with an
original maturity of three months or less, which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
For the purpose of the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and short-term financial investments, as they are
considered an integral part of the Company’s cash management.
f) Restricted cash
Restricted cash in the statement of financial position comprise of financial investments in investment funds that serve as collateral for loan
agreements and other commitments.
g) Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The costs of inventories are based on the average cost method and include
costs incurred in the purchase of inventories and other costs incurred in bringing them to their current location and condition. Costs of purchased
inventory are determined after deducting any discounts and recoverable taxes.
F-20
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
h) Property and equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any.
Subsequent expenditures are capitalized only if it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the expenditure will flow to the
Company.
Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
Building
25 years
Machinery and equipment
10 years
Vehicles
4 years
Furniture and fixtures
10 years
IT equipment
5 years
Library books
10 years
Laboratories and clinics
10 years
Leasehold improvements
5 - 20 years
An item of property and equipment and any significant part initially recognized is derecognized upon disposal or when no future economic benefit is
expected from its use or disposal. Any gain or loss arising on the derecognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between the net disposal
proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) is included in the statement of income when the asset is derecognized.
The residual values, useful lives and methods of depreciation of property and equipment are reviewed at each financial year end and adjusted
prospectively, if appropriate.
i) Leases
As from January 1, 2019, the determination of whether an arrangement is (or contains) a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at the
inception of the contract. The arrangement is, or contains, a lease if fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset (or
assets) and the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset (or assets), even if that asset is (or those assets are) not explicitly specified in an
arrangement.
Company as a lessee
The Company applies a single recognition and measurement approach for all leases, except for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets.
The Company recognizes lease liabilities to make lease payments and right-of-use assets representing the right to use the underlying assets.
F-21
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Right-of-use assets
The Company recognizes right-of-use assets at the commencement date of the lease (i.e., the date the underlying asset is available for use).
Right-of-use assets are measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, and adjusted for any remeasurement of
lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes the amount of lease liabilities recognized, initial direct costs incurred, and lease payments
made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received. Unless the Company is reasonably certain to obtain ownership of
the leased asset at the end of the lease term, the recognized right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of its
estimated useful life and the lease term. Right-of use assets are subject to impairment.
Lease liabilities
At the commencement date of the lease, the Company recognizes lease liabilities measured at the present value of lease payments to be made
over the lease term. The lease payments include fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments) less any lease incentives receivable,
variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, and amounts expected to be paid under residual value guarantees. The lease payments
also include the exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised by the Company and payments of penalties for terminating a
lease, if the lease term reflects the Company exercising the option to terminate. The variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a
rate are recognized as expense in the period on which the event or condition that triggers the payment occurs.
In calculating the present value of lease payments, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date if the
interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable. After the commencement date, the amount of lease liabilities is increased to reflect the
accretion of interest and reduced for the lease payments made. In addition, the carrying amount of lease liabilities is remeasured if there is a
modification, a change in the lease term, a change in the in-substance fixed lease payments or a change in the assessment to purchase the
underlying asset.
Short-term leases and leases of low-value assets
The Company applies the short-term lease recognition exemption to its short-term leases of properties (i.e., those leases that have a lease term of
12 months or less from the commencement date and do not contain a purchase option). It also applies the lease of low-value assets recognition
exemption to leases that are considered of low value. Lease payments on short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognized as
expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
j) Intangible assets
Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination
is their fair value at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortization and
accumulated impairment losses. Internally generated intangibles are not capitalized and the related expenditure is reflected in the statement of
income in the period in which the expenditure is incurred.
The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed as finite or indefinite.
Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the useful economic life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the
intangible asset may be impaired.
F-22
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The amortization period and the amortization method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at least at the end of each reporting
period. Changes in the expected useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset are
considered to modify the amortization period or method, as appropriate, and are treated as changes in accounting estimates. The amortization
expense on intangible assets with finite lives is recognized in the statement of income in the expense category that is consistent with the function of
the intangible assets.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually, either individually or at the cash-generating
unit level. The assessment of indefinite life is reviewed annually to determine whether the indefinite life continues to be supportable. If not, the
change in useful life from indefinite to finite is made on a prospective basis.
An intangible asset is derecognized upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal. Any gain or loss
arising upon derecognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) is
included in the statement of income.
k) Impairment of non-financial assets
The Company assesses, at each reporting date, whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any indication exists, or when
annual impairment testing for an asset is required, the Company estimates the asset’s recoverable amount. An asset’s recoverable amount is the
higher of an asset’s or CGU’s fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. The recoverable amount is determined for an individual asset,
unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. When the carrying
amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount.
In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. In determining fair value less costs of disposal, recent market
transactions are considered. If no such transactions can be identified, an appropriate valuation model is used. These calculations are corroborated
by valuation multiples, quoted share prices for publicly traded companies or other available fair value indicators.
The Company bases its impairment calculation on detailed budgets and forecast calculations, which are prepared separately for each of the
Company’s CGUs to which the individual assets are allocated. These budgets and forecast calculations generally cover a period of five years,
considering the companies activities and maturation period of its graduate and undergraduate courses. A long-term growth rate is calculated and
applied to project future cash flows after the last projected year.
For impairment testing, goodwill acquired through business combinations and licenses with indefinite useful lives are allocated to their respective
CGUs. The Company has defined each of its operating subsidiaries as a CGU, except for digital services segment, which combines subsidiaries of
(i) "Content & Technology for medical education”; (ii) "Clinical Decision Software”; and (iii) "Practice Management Tools & Electronic Prescription”,
where the subsidiaries were combined as one CGU following the business strategic pillars.
Whenever applicable, impairment losses of continuing operations are recognized in the statement of income in expense categories consistent with
the function of the impaired asset.
F-23
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
For assets excluding goodwill, an assessment is made at each reporting date to determine whether there is an indication that previously recognized
impairment losses no longer exist or have decreased. If such indication exists, the Company estimates the asset’s or CGU’s recoverable amount. A
previously recognized impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the assumptions used to determine the asset’s recoverable
amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. The reversal is limited so that the carrying amount of the asset does not exceed its
recoverable amount, nor exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been
recognized for the asset in prior years. Such reversal is recognized in the statement of income.
Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as at December 31 and when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired.
Impairment is determined for goodwill by assessing the recoverable amount of each CGU (or group of CGUs) to which the goodwill relates. When
the recoverable amount of the CGU is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. Impairment losses relating to goodwill
cannot be reversed in future periods.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually as at December 31 at the CGU level, as appropriate, and when
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired.
l) Investments
Investments in associates are initially recognized at consideration transferred and adjusted thereafter for the equity method, being increased or
reduced from its interest in the investee's income after the acquisition date. An associate is an entity over which the Company has significant
influence. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control or joint
control over those policies.
m) Accounts payable to selling shareholders
These amounts represent liabilities related to the acquisitions made by the Company which are not yet due. Accounts payable to selling
shareholders are presented as current liabilities unless payment is not due within 12 months after the reporting period. They are recognized initially
at their fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.
n) Provisions
Provisions are recognized when the Company has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that an
outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the
obligation. The expense relating to a provision is presented in the statement of income, net of any reimbursement, when applicable.
o) Dividends payable
The Company recognizes a liability to pay a dividend when the distribution is authorized and the distribution is no longer at the discretion of the
Company. The distribution is authorized when it is required to pay a minimum dividend of the net income for the year in accordance with the
Brazilian Corporate Law (applicable for Afya Brazil) and the Company’s By-Laws or is approved by the shareholders. A corresponding amount is
recognized directly in equity.
F-24
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
p) Labor and social obligations
Labor and social obligations are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is recognized for the amount expected to be paid if the
Company has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation
can be estimated reliably.
q) Share-based payments
Certain key executives of the Company receive remuneration in the form of share-based payments, which includes Stock Options and Restricted
Stock Units ("RSUs”), whereby the executives render services as consideration for equity instruments (equity-settled transactions).
The expense of equity-settled transactions is determined by the fair value at the date when the grant is made using an appropriate valuation model.
That expense is recognized in general and administrative expenses, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which the
service and, where applicable, the performance conditions are fulfilled (the vesting period). The cumulative expense recognized for equity-settled
transactions at each reporting date until the vesting date reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and the Company’s best
estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest. The expense or credit in the statement of income for a period represents the
movement in cumulative expense recognized as at the beginning and end of that period.
Service and non-market performance conditions are not considered when determining the grant date fair value of awards, but the likelihood of the
conditions being met is assessed as part of the Company’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest. Market
performance conditions are reflected within the grant date fair value. Any other conditions attached to an award, but without an associated service
requirement, are considered to be non-vesting conditions. Non-vesting conditions are reflected in the fair value of an award and lead to an
immediate expensing of an award unless there are also service and/or performance conditions.
No expense is recognized for awards that do not ultimately vest because non-market performance and/or service conditions have not been met.
Where awards include a market or non-vesting condition, the transactions are treated as vested irrespective of whether the market or non-vesting
condition is satisfied, provided that all other performance and/or service conditions are satisfied.
When the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, the minimum expense recognized is the grant date fair value of the unmodified award,
provided the original vesting terms of the award are met. An additional expense, measured as at the date of modification, is recognized for any
modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment transaction, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee. Where an award
is cancelled by the entity or by the counterparty, any remaining element of the fair value of the award is expensed immediately through the
statement of income.
The dilutive effect of outstanding options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of diluted earnings per share.
F-25
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
r) Revenue from contracts with customers
Revenue recognition transferred over time
The Company's revenue consists primarily of tuition fees charged for medical courses. The Company also generates revenue from tuition fees for
other undergraduate courses, student fees, certain education-related activities, digital education content and subscription of digital services.
Revenues are recognized when services are rendered to the customer and the performance obligation is satisfied.
Revenue from tuitions, digital education content and electronic medical records are recognized over time when services are rendered to the
customer and the Company satisfies its performance obligation under the contract at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the
Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. Revenues from tuitions are recognized net of scholarships and other discounts,
refunds and taxes.
Other revenues are recognized at a point in time when the service is rendered to the customer at an amount that reflects the consideration to which
the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for the service. Other revenues are presented net of the corresponding discounts, returns and
taxes.
Revenue recognition transferred at point in time
Revenue from sale of printed books, e-books, healthcare payments, online platforms and marketing for pharmaceutical industry are recognized at
the point in time when control of the asset or services is transferred to the customer, generally on delivery of the goods at the customer’s location
and permission to access the digital content. The Company considers whether there are other promises in the contract that are separate
performance obligations to which a portion of the transaction price needs to be allocated. In determining the transaction price for the printed books
and e-books, the Company considers the effects of variable consideration, financing component, noncash consideration, and consideration payable
to the customer to be not significant.
The Company has concluded that it is the principal in its revenue arrangements.
The Company assesses collectability on a portfolio basis prior to recording revenue. Generally, students cannot re-enroll for the next academic
session without satisfactory resolution of any past-due amounts. If a student withdraws from an institution, the Company's obligation to issue a
refund depends on the refund policy at that institution and the timing of the student's withdrawal. Generally, the refund obligations are reduced over
the course of the academic term.
Trade receivables
Trade receivables represent the Company’s right to an amount of consideration that is unconditional (i.e., only the passage of time is required
before payment of the consideration is due). Refer to accounting policies of financial assets in Financial instruments – initial recognition and
subsequent measurement.
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Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Advances from customers
Advances from customers (a contract liability) are the obligation to transfer services to a customer for which the Company has received
consideration (or an amount of consideration is due) from the customer, as a result of pre-paid tuition, digital education content and mobile app
subscription for digital medical content received from customers and is recognized separately in current liabilities, when the payment is received.
Advances from customers are recognized as revenue when the Company performs all obligations related to the contract, generally in the following
month.
s) Taxes
The Company’s subsidiaries in the undergrad segment joined the PROUNI (Programa Universidade para Todos – University for All Program)
program, which is a federal program that exempts post-secondary institutions of some federal taxes in exchange for providing a certain number of
student enrollment for low-income students, and benefits from the exemption of the following federal taxes:
• Income taxes and social contribution
• PIS and COFINS
The regulation of PROUNI defines that the revenue from traditional and technological graduation activities is exempt from PIS and COFINS. For
income from other teaching activities, PIS and COFINS are charged at rates of 0.65% and 3.00%, respectively, and for non-teaching activities, PIS
is charged at a rate of 1.65% and to COFINS at 7.6%.
Current income taxes
Current income taxes were calculated based on the criteria established by the Normative Instruction of the Brazilian Internal Revenue Service,
specifically regarding the PROUNI program, which allows exemption of these taxes from traditional and technological graduation activities.
Current income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax
rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.
Management periodically evaluates positions taken in the tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are subject to
interpretation and establishes provisions where appropriate.
t) Treasury shares
Own equity instruments that are reacquired (treasury shares) are recognized at cost and deducted from equity. No gain or loss is recognized in
profit or loss on the purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of the Company’s own equity instruments. Any difference between the carrying amount
and the consideration, if reissued, is recognized in the share premium.
F-27
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
2.4 Changes in accounting policies and disclosures
New standards, interpretations and amendments adopted by the Company
The following amendments apply for the first time in 2022, but there are no significant impacts on the financial statements of the Company:
Amendments / standards
Description
Period First adopted
Impact
Onerous Contracts – Costs of Fulfilling
a Contract – Amendments to IAS 37
Specify that when assessing whether a contract is onerous or loss-making, an
entity needs to include costs that relate directly to a contract to provide goods or
services including both incremental costs (e.g., the costs of direct labour and
materials) and an allocation of costs directly related to contract activities (e.g.,
depreciation of equipment used to fulfil the contract and costs of contract
management and supervision). General and administrative costs do not relate
directly to a contract and are excluded unless they are explicitly chargeable to the
counterparty under the contract.
1 January 2022
These amendments have no
significant impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
Reference to the Conceptual
Framework – Amendments to IFRS 3
The amendments add an exception to the recognition principle of IFRS 3 Business
Combinations to avoid the issue of potential ‘day 2’ gains or losses arising for
liabilities and contingent liabilities that would be within the scope of IAS 37
Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets or IFRIC 21 Levies, if
incurred separately. The exception requires entities to apply the criteria in IAS 37
or IFRIC 21, respectively, instead of the Conceptual Framework, to determine
whether a present obligation exists at the acquisition date. The amendments also
add a new paragraph to IFRS 3 to clarify that contingent assets do not qualify for
recognition at the acquisition date.
1 January 2022
These amendments had no impact
on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Proceeds before Intended Use –
Amendments to IAS 16 Leases
The amendment prohibits entities from deducting from the cost of an item of
property, plant and equipment, any proceeds of the sale of items produced while
bringing that asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of
operating in the manner intended by management. Instead, an entity recognises
the proceeds from selling such items, and the costs of producing those items, in
profit or loss.
1 January 2022
These amendments had no impact
on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements.
F-28
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The new and amended standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of issuance of the Company’s financial
statements are presented below. The Group intends to adopt these new and amended standards and interpretations, if applicable, when they
become effective.
Amendments / standards
Description
Period First adopted
Impact
Amendments to IAS 1: Classification of
Liabilities as Current or Non-current
The amendments clarify: i) what is meant by a right to defer settlement; ii) that a
right to defer must exist at the end of the reporting period; iii) that classification is
unaffected by the likelihood that an entity will exercise its deferral right; iv) that
only if an embedded derivative in a convertible liability is itself an equity instrument
would the terms of a liability not impact its classification
The amendments must be applied retrospectively.
1 January 2023
These amendments are not
expected to have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
Definition of Accounting Estimates -
Amendments to IAS 8
The IASB issued amendments to IAS 8, in which it introduces a definition of
‘accounting estimates’. The amendments clarify the distinction between changes
in accounting estimates and changes in accounting policies and the correction of
errors. Also, they clarify how entities use measurement techniques and inputs to
develop accounting estimates.
The amendments when effective apply to changes in accounting policies and
changes in accounting estimates that occur on or after the start of that period.
Earlier application is permitted as long as this fact is disclosed.
1 January 2023
These amendments are not
expected to have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
Disclosure of Accounting Policies -
Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice
Statement 2
The IASB issued amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 Making
Materiality Judgements, in which it provides guidance and examples to help
entities apply materiality judgements to accounting policy disclosures. The
amendments aim to help entities provide accounting policy disclosures that
are more useful by replacing the requirement for entities to disclose their
‘significant’ accounting policies with
a requirement to disclose their ‘material’ accounting policies and adding guidance
on how entities apply the
concept of materiality in making decisions about accounting policy disclosures.
Since the amendments to the Practice Statement 2 provide non-mandatory
1 January 2023
These amendments are not
expected to have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
guidance on the application of the definition of material to accounting policy
information, an effective date for these amendments is not necessary.
Deferred Tax related to Assets and
Liabilities arising from a Single
Transaction - Amendments to IAS 12
The Board issued amendments to IAS 12, which narrow the scope of the initial
recognition exception under IAS 12, so that it no longer applies to transactions
that give rise to equal taxable and deductible temporary differences.
The amendments should be applied to transactions that occur on or after the
beginning of the earliest
comparative period presented. In addition, at the beginning of the earliest
comparative period presented, a deferred tax asset (provided that sufficient
taxable profit is available) and a deferred tax liability should also be recognised
for all deductible and taxable temporary differences associated with leases and
decommissioning obligations.
1 January 2023
These amendments are not
expected to have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
F-29
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Significant accounting estimates and assumptions
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, and the accompanying disclosures. Uncertainty about these assumptions
and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities affected in future periods.
Accounting estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of
future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Revisions to estimates are recognized prospectively.
Other disclosures relating to the Company’s exposure to risks and uncertainties includes:
· Financial instruments risk management objectives and policies – Note 13.4
· Sensitivity analyses disclosures – Note 13.4.1
Estimates and assumptions
The key assumptions about the future and other key sources of estimated uncertainty as of the reporting date that include a significant risk of a
material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are described below. The Company based its
assumptions and estimates on parameters available when the consolidated financial statements were prepared. Existing circumstances and
assumptions about future developments, however, may change due to market changes or circumstances that arise and that are beyond the
Company’s control. Such changes are reflected in the assumptions when they occur.
Identification and fair-value measurement of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. Such method requires recognizing and measuring the identifiable assets
acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. The Company, as the acquirer, must classify or designate the
identifiable assets and liabilities assumed on the basis of its own contractual terms, economic conditions, operating and accounting policies and
other relevant conditions as at the acquisition date. Such assessment requires judgments from the Company on the methods used to determine
the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including valuation techniques that may require prospective financial information inputs.
Impairment of non-financial assets
Impairment exists when the carrying value of an asset or cash generating unit ("CGU”) or group of CGUs exceeds its recoverable amount, defined
as the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. The fair value less costs of disposal calculation is based on data available
from binding sales transactions, conducted at arm’s length, for similar assets or observable market prices less incremental costs of disposing of
the asset. The value in use calculation is based on a discounted cash flow model ("DCF” model). The cash flows are derived from the budget for
the next five years and do not include restructuring activities to which the Company has not yet committed or significant future investments that will
enhance the performance of the assets of the CGU being tested. The recoverable amount is sensitive to the discount rate used for the DCF model
as well as to expected future cash-inflows and the growth rate used for extrapolation purposes.
F-30
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
These estimates are most relevant to goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets recognized by the Company. The key assumptions used to
determine the recoverable amount for each CGU, including a sensitivity analysis, are disclosed and further explained in Note 12.
Share-based compensation
Estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions requires determination of the most appropriate valuation model, which depends on the
terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determination of the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model including the
expected life of the share option or appreciation right, volatility and dividend yield and making assumptions about them. For the measurement of the
fair value of equity-settled transactions, the Company uses the Binomial model. The assumptions and models used for estimating fair value for
share-based payment transactions are disclosed in Note 16 (b).
Leases - Estimating the incremental borrowing rate
The Company cannot readily determine the interest rate implicit in the lease, therefore, it uses its incremental borrowing rate (IBR) to measure
lease liabilities. The IBR is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the
funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment. The IBR therefore reflects what
the Company ‘would have to pay’, which requires estimation when no observable rates are available (such as for subsidiaries that do not enter into
financing transactions) or when they need to be adjusted to reflect the terms and conditions of the lease (for example, when leases are not in the
subsidiary’s functional currency).
The Company estimates the IBR using observable inputs (such as market interest rates) when available and is required to make certain entity-
specific estimates.
Segment information
The Company has three reportable segments as follows:
• Undergrad, which provides educational services through undergraduate courses related to medicine, other health sciences and other
undergraduate programs;
• Continuing Education, which provides specialization programs and graduate courses in medicine; and
• Digital Services, which provides content and technology for medical education, clinical decisions software, practice management tools (that
encompass electronic medical records, telemedicine and digital prescription for physicians), doctor-patient relationship and provides access,
demand and efficiency for the healthcare players.
Segment information is presented consistently with the internal reports provided to the Company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), which is th
Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) and is responsible for allocating resources, assessing the performance of the Company's operatin
segments, and making the Company's strategic decisions.
No operating segments have been aggregated to form the above reportable operating segments. There is only one geographic region, and the
results are monitored and evaluated as a single business.
F-31
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The following tables presents assets and liabilities information for the Company’s operating segments as of December 31, 2022 and December 31,
2021, respectively:
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Total reportable
segments
Adjustments and
eliminations
Total
As of December 31, 2022
Total assets
6,775,829
149,254
275,564
7,200,647
(1,108)
7,199,539
Current assets
1,461,802
61,673
115,290
1,638,765
(1,108)
1,637,657
Non-current assets
5,314,027
87,581
160,274
5,561,882
-
5,561,882
Total liabilities and equity
6,775,829
149,254
275,564
7,200,647
(1,108)
7,199,539
Current liabilities
711,896
57,605
137,296
906,797
(1,108)
905,689
Non-current liabilities
2,938,960
63,990
40,742
3,043,692
-
3,043,692
Equity
3,124,973
27,659
97,526
3,250,158
-
3,250,158
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Total reportable
segments
Adjustments and
eliminations
Total
As of December 31, 2022
Other disclosures
Investments in associate
53,907
-
-
53,907
-
53,907
Capital expenditures (*)
247,634
8,827
61,694
318,155
-
318,155
(*)
Some of the capital expenditures are considered non-cash transactions (refer to note 24).
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Total reportable
segments
Adjustments and
eliminations
Total
As of December 31, 2021
Total assets
6,072,135
105,629
272,122
6,449,886
(2,480)
6,447,406
Current assets
1,048,869
42,737
117,726
1,209,332
(2,480)
1,206,852
Non-current assets
5,023,266
62,892
154,396
5,240,554
-
5,240,554
Total liabilities and equity
6,072,135
105,629
272,122
6,449,886
(2,480)
6,447,406
Current liabilities
645,657
32,300
91,029
768,986
(2,480)
766,506
Non-current liabilities
2,551,175
47,705
82,002
2,680,882
-
2,680,882
Equity
2,875,303
25,624
99,091
3,000,018
-
3,000,018
Continuing
Total reportable
Adjustments and
Undergrad
Education
Digital Services
segments
eliminations
Total
As of December 31, 2021
Other disclosures
Investments in associate
48,477
-
-
48,477
-
48,477
As of December 31, 2021
Capital expenditures (*)
220,202
25,682
56,095
301,979
-
301,979
(*)
Some of the capital expenditures are considered non-cash transactions (refer to note 24).
F-32
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The following tables present the statements of income for the Company’s operating segments for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and
2020:
December 31, 2022
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Total reportable
segments
Elimination (inter-
segment
transactions)
Total
External customer
2,037,889
108,806
182,362
2,329,057
-
2,329,057
Inter-segment
-
-
7,622
7,622
(7,622)
-
Revenue
2,037,889
108,806
189,984
2,336,679
(7,622)
2,329,057
Cost of services
(763,185)
(56,554)
(47,435)
(867,174)
7,622
(859,552)
Gross profit
1,274,704
52,252
142,549
1,469,505
-
1,469,505
General and administrative expenses
(798,153)
Other expenses, net
(7,252)
Operating income
664,100
Finance income
102,042
Finance expenses
(349,893)
Share of income of associate
12,184
Income before income taxes
428,433
Income taxes expenses
(35,677)
Net income
392,756
December 31, 2021
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Total reportable
segments
Elimination (inter-
segment
transactions)
Total
External customer
1,498,408
72,983
147,980
1,719,371
-
1,719,371
Inter-segment
-
-
3,978
3,978
(3,978)
-
Revenue
1,498,408
72,983
151,958
1,723,349
(3,978)
1,719,371
Cost of services
(554,995)
(50,773)
(50,510)
(656,278)
3,978
(652,300)
Gross profit
943,413
22,210
101,448
1,067,071
-
1,067,071
General and administrative expenses
-
-
-
-
-
(622,615)
Other expenses, net
-
-
-
-
-
(3,561)
Operating income
-
-
-
-
-
440,895
Finance income
-
-
-
-
-
64,566
Finance expenses
-
-
-
-
-
(243,796)
Share of income of associate
-
-
-
-
-
11,797
Income before income taxes
-
-
-
-
-
273,462
Income taxes expenses
-
-
-
-
-
(31,179)
Net income
-
-
-
-
-
242,283
December 31, 2020
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Total reportable
segments
Elimination (inter-
segment
transactions)
Total
External customer
1,002,461
107,197
91,533
1,201,191
-
1,201,191
Inter-segment
-
-
1,619
1,619
(1,619)
-
Revenue
1,002,461
107,197
93,152
1,202,810
(1,619)
1,201,191
Cost of services
(381,964)
(40,000)
(14,309)
(436,273)
1,619
(434,654)
Gross profit
620,497
67,197
78,843
766,537
-
766,537
General and administrative expenses
-
-
-
-
-
(402,855)
Other expenses, net
-
-
-
-
-
(347)
Operating income
-
-
-
-
-
363,335
Finance income
-
-
-
-
-
62,290
Finance expenses
-
-
-
-
-
(98,269)
Share of income of associate
-
-
-
-
-
7,698
Income before income taxes
-
-
-
-
-
335,054
Income taxes expenses
-
-
-
-
-
(27,067)
Net income
-
-
-
-
-
307,987
F-33
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Seasonality of operations
Undergrad’s tuition revenues are related to the enrollment process and monthly tuition fees charged to students over the period; thus, does not have
significant fluctuations during the semester. Continuing Education revenues are related to monthly intake and tuition fees and do not have a
considerable concentration in any period. Digital Services is comprised mainly of Medcel, Pebmed, and iClinic revenues. While Pebmed and iClini
do not have significant fluctuation regarding seasonality, Medcel’s revenue is concentrated in the first and last quarter of the year due to the
enrollments of Medcel’s clients’ period. In addition, the majority of Medcel’s revenues are derived from printed books and e-books, which are
recognized at the point in time when control is transferred to the customer. Consequently, the Digital Services segment generally has higher
revenues and results of operations in the first and last quarters of the year than in the second and third quarters.
Business combinations
5.1 Acquisitions in 2022
The fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of acquisition date were:
Assets
Além da Medicina
CardioPapers
Glic
Cash and cash and equivalents
298
3,648
151
Trade receivables
1,705
1,350
94
Other assets
266
1
36
Property and equipment
37
43
-
Intangible assets
20,299
28,655
15,395
22,605
33,697
15,676
Liabilities
Trade payables
705
1,703
1
Labor and social obligations
79
60
-
Taxes and contributions payable
1,182
352
91
Advances from customers
6,185
3,893
-
Other liabilities
-
-
574
8,151
6,008
666
Total identifiable net assets at fair value
14,454
27,689
15,010
Goodwill arising on acquisition
12,335
14,324
15,587
Purchase consideration transferred
26,789
42,013
30,597
Cash paid
14,952
34,924
21,602
Contingent consideration
11,074
7,422
8,995
Consideration to be transferred (Price adjustment)
763
(333)
-
Analysis of cash flows on acquisition:
Transaction costs of the acquisition (included in cash flows from operating activities)
227
274
222
Cash paid net of cash acquired with the subsidiary (included in cash flows from investing activities)
14,654
31,276
21,451
Net of cash flow on acquisition
14,881
31,550
21,673
(a) Acquisition of Além da Medicina
On March 4, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the share capital of BMV Atividades Médicas Ltda. ("Além da Medicina”). The aggregate purchase
price of R$26,789 is comprised by: i) R$14,952 paid in cash on the transaction closing date; ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$
19,200 is payable in connection with revenue target achievements for 2023 and 2024; and iii) price adjustment related to net debt of R$763 in favor
of selling shareholders. The contingent consideration of R$11,074 is based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and
circumstances at the acquisition date. See Note 13.2.3 for further details of the earn-out amounts as of December 31, 2022.
F-34
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Além da Medicina is a medical content online platform for physicians and medical students that provides educational tools besides technical
medical content that can assist them throughout their careers. Its contents include mentoring for residency, soft skills and finance, accounting, and
investment basics for physicians.
The acquisition of Além da Medicina was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$227 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The Company did not recognize deferred taxes related to the business combination because the tax basis and the accounting basis, including fair
value adjustments, were the same at the date of the business combination.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Educational
content
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
From the date of acquisition, Além da Medicina has contributed R$12,859 of revenue and R$1,448 of income before income taxes to the Company.
Should the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the period, revenue for the period ended December 31, 2022 would have been increased
by R$2,529 and income before income taxes would have been increased by R$867.
F-35
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(b) Acquisition of CardioPapers
On April 5, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the share capital of Cardiopapers Soluções Digitais Ltda. ("CardioPapers”). The aggregate purchase
price of R$42,013 is comprised by: i) R$34,924 paid in cash on the transaction closing date; ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of
R$15,000 is payable in connection with revenue target achievements for 2023 and 2024 and other goals; and iii) price adjustment related to net debt
of R$333 in favor of Afya Brazil. The contingent consideration of R$7,422 is based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and
circumstances at the acquisition date. See Note 13.2.3 for further details of the earn-out amounts as of December 31, 2022.
CardioPapers is the main medical content and education platform in the Cardiology field, offering courses and books developed by physicians and
for physicians, covering all phases of the medical career, aligned with Afya's overall business strategy.
The acquisition of CardioPapers was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$274 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The Company did not recognize deferred taxes related to the business combination because the tax basis and the accounting basis, including fair
value adjustments, were the same at the date of the business combination.
F-36
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible
assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Multi-period excess earnings method
Customer
relationships
p
g
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Educational
content
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
Copyrights
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
From the date of acquisition, CardioPapers has contributed R$9,934 of revenue and R$2,352 of income before income taxes to the Company.
Should the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the period, revenue for the period ended December 31, 2022 would have been increased
by R$2,117 and income before income taxes would have been decreased by R$2,041.
(c) Acquisition of Glic
On May 23, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the share capital of Quasar Telemedicina Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Computacionais Ltda.
("Glic”). The aggregate purchase price of R$30,597 is comprised by: i) R$21,602 paid in cash on the transaction closing date and ii) an earn-out
("contingent consideration”) of up of R$12,000 is payable in connection with revenue target achievements for 2023 and 2024 and product
development goals. The contingent consideration of R$8,995 is based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and
circumstances at the acquisition date. See Note 13.2.3 for further details of the earn-out amounts as of December 31, 2022.
Glic is a free diabetes care and management app solution for physicians and patients that uses technology to improve diabetes education and daily
routine practices, connecting users, devices and healthcare providers.
The acquisition of Glic was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$222 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
F-37
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The Company did not recognize deferred taxes related to the business combination because the tax basis and the accounting basis, including fair
value adjustments, were the same at the date of the business combination.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
From the date of acquisition, Glic has contributed R$389 of revenue and R$1,539 of losses before income taxes to the Company. Should the
acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the period, revenue for the period ended December 31, 2022 would have been increased by R$173
and income before income taxes would have been decreased by R$700.
F-38
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
5.2 Acquisitions in 2021
The fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of each acquisition date were:
Assets
iClinic
Medicinae
Medical Harbour
Cliquefarma
Shosp
Unifipmoc
Unigranrio (i)
RXPRO (ii)
Cash and cash and equivalents
1,659
201
47
1,009
397
6,140
34,755
91
Restrict cash
6,050
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Trade receivables
1,201
-
159
501
-
34,309
26,622
1,211
Inventories
-
-
-
-
-
-
352
246
Recoverable taxes
72
15
-
-
1
1,295
738
112
Other assets
20
-
2
-
-
702
12,159
366
Right-of-use assets
88
-
-
-
-
52,079
87,265
82
Property and equipment
473
17
34
-
5
24,277
40,775
42
Indemnification assets
1,252
-
-
-
-
7,331
71,669
-
Intangible assets
84,987
4,518
7,359
14,991
4,856
227,534
510,356
6,330
95,802
4,751
7,601
16,501
5,259
353,667
784,691
8,480
Liabilities
Trade payables
619
-
6
8
1
985
6,197
1,060
Loans and financing
-
-
299
580
-
30,179
5,533
-
Labor and social obligations
1,414
159
4
102
89
5,306
22,854
62
Taxes and contributions payable
77
4
1
307
123
758
94,025
100
Provision for legal proceedings
1,252
-
-
-
-
7,331
71,669
-
Leases liabilities
88
-
-
-
-
52,079
87,265
82
Advances from customers
400
-
35
3
167
10,745
3,387
-
Other liabilities
-
-
-
-
-
5,739
4,878
-
3,850
163
345
1,000
380
113,122
295,808
1,304
Total identifiable net assets at fair value
91,952
4,588
7,256
15,501
4,879
240,545
488,883
7,176
Goodwill arising on acquisition
99,168
4,584
4,022
6,588
3,022
87,777
130,073
38,446
Purchase consideration transferred
191,120
9,172
11,278
22,089
7,901
328,322
618,956
45,622
Cash paid
119,620
5,600
5,000
16,166
5,855
328,322
375,670
30,263
Contingent consideration
-
3,572
6,278
2,923
1,592
-(*)
-(**)
10,171
Consideration to be transferred
-
-
-
-
454
-
243,286
76
Paid in shares
71,500
-
-
3,000
-
-
-
5,112
Analysis of cash flows on acquisition:
Transaction costs of the acquisition (included in cash flows
from operating activities)
856
117
144
336
188
177
10,990
264
Cash paid net of cash acquired with the subsidiary
(included in cash flows from investing activities)
117,961
5,399
4,953
15,157
5,458
322,182
340,915
30,172
Net of cash flow on acquisition
118,817
5,516
5,097
15,493
5,646
322,359
351,905
30,436
(*)
There are 40 additional seats still pending approval, which, if approved by the Ministry of Education, will result in a potential additional payment of up to R$50,000.
(**)
There are 82 additional seats still pending approval, which, if approved by the Ministry of Education, will result in a potential additional payment of up to R$90,200.
(i) During the measurement period, the goodwill for the acquisition of Unigranrio was adjusted by R$39,100 (R$130,073 initial goodwill) as a result of an increase of liabilities regarding tax
contingencies.
(ii) During the measurement period, R$8,637 of goodwill (R$38,446 initial goodwill) arising from the acquisition of RXPRO was reduced, in connection with management’s view of remote likelihood of
RXPRO achieving the revenue goals stablished at the terms of the earn-out.
(a) Acquisition of iClinic
On January 21, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the share capital of iClinic (comprised by iClinic Participações, iClinic Desenvolvimento and
Black River). The aggregate purchase price of R$191,120 is comprised of: (i) 62.6% was paid in cash, and (ii) 37.4% was settled with Afya's shares
on the transaction closing date.
F-39
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
iClinic is a SaaS model physician focused technology company and the leading medical practice management software in Brazil. iClinic empowe
doctors to be more independent and have more control over their careers by digitalizing their daily routine, so they can increase their productivity
and deliver better healthcare services. With the acquisition of iClinic to our platform, Afya will make another step to become the one stop shop for
physicians in Brazil.
The acquisition of iClinic was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$856 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount. Afya Brazil measured the acquired lease liabilities
using the present value of the remaining lease payments at the date of acquisition. The right-of-use assets were measured at an amount equal to
the lease liabilities and adjusted to reflect the unfavorable terms of the lease relative to market terms.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Relief from royalty
Trademark
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
iClinic has contributed R$ 16,456 of revenue and R$ 8,250 of loss before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the acquisition had taken
place at the beginning of the period, revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 1,158 and income before income taxes for 2021 would
have been decreased by R$ 1,320.
F-40
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(b) Acquisition of Medicinae
On March 25, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the total share capital of Medicinae, a leading Brazilian healthcare technology company that
specializes in healthcare payments and financial services. The aggregate purchase price of R$9,172 is comprised by: i) R$ 5,600 of which 100%
was paid in cash on the transaction closing date; and ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$ 4,400 is payable in connection with
product development goals for 2021 and revenue achievements for 2022. The contingent consideration of R$3,572 is based on the present value of
the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date.
The acquisition will expand Afya’s digital health services, as it offers a unique financial platform that allows healthcare professionals all over Brazil to
manage receivables in an efficient and scalable way using FIDC (Receivables Investment Fund).
Medicinae relieves a number of challenges in the healthcare payments industry, as reduces long payment cycles for professionals and consolidates
financial information, improving the consumer financial experience. Afya’s intention is to grow the Digital Services segment.
The acquisition of Medicinae was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$117 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
Medicinae has contributed R$ 359 of revenue and R$ 1,518 of loss before income taxes to the Company in 2021. If the acquisition had taken place
at the beginning of the period, revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 105 and income before income taxes for 2021 would have been
decreased by R$ 113.
F-41
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(c) Acquisition of Medical Harbour
On April 8, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the total share capital of Medical Harbour, which offers educational health and medical imaging
solutions through an interactive platform for anatomical study, 3D virtual dissection and analysis of medical images, which allow the exploration, and
knowledge of human anatomy with digital resources. The aggregate purchase price of R$11,278 is comprised by: i) R$ 5,000 of which 100% was
paid in cash on the transaction closing date; and ii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up to R$ 9,000 is payable in connection with product
development goals for 2021 and 2022 and revenue achievements for 2023. The contingent consideration of R$6,278 is based on the present value
of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date.
This acquisition enables Afya to start providing a high quality solution to study the human body, allowing efficient classes and remote practical
sessions with greater student acceptance and scalability. Additionally, Afya will be able to distribute Medical Harbour solutions to all of its
ecosystem, creating B2C and B2B growth opportunities.
The acquisition of Medical Harbour was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$144 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
Medical Harbour has contributed R$ 484 of revenue and R$ 1,945 of loss before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the acquisition had
taken place at the beginning of the period, revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 268 and income before income taxes for 2021 would
have been increased by R$ 127.
F-42
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(d) Acquisition of Cliquefarma
On April 16, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the total share capital of Cliquefarma, a healthtech company operating a free-to-use website that
tracks prescription drugs, cosmetics and personal hygiene product prices in Brazil. The aggregate purchase price of R$ 22,089 is comprised by: (i)
R$ 16,166 paid in cash; (ii) R$3,000 settled with Afya's shares on the transaction closing date; and (iii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of
R$ 3,000 is payable in relation to product development. The contingent consideration of R$2,923 is based on the present value of the obligation
considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date.
Users of Cliquefarma can easily search for medications or healthcare products and compare prices from over 15,000 pharmacies in Brazil. The
traffic generated is monetized through a cost-per-click model, where drugstores pay for each click on their advertisements, a cost-per-acquisition,
where drugstores pay for each concluded sale.
The acquisition of Cliquefarma will enhance the Digital Services segment, creating the opportunity to leverage traffic and GMV with prescriptions
generated from Afya’s physician ecosystem.
The acquisition of Cliquefarma was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$336 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Relief fromroyalty
Trademark
e e
o
oya ty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
Cliquefarma has contributed R$ 3,268 of revenue and R$ 1,752 of income before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the acquisition had
taken place at the beginning of the period, revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 1,435 and income before income taxes for 2021
would have been increased by R$ 926.
F-43
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(e) Acquisition of Shosp
On May 13, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the total share capital of Shosp, a clinical management software that offers all functionalities needed
for clinics all over Brazil to manage their financials, patients appointments, medical records, marketing, and others. Afya’s intention is to reinforce
the Digital Services operating segment. The aggregate purchase price of R$7,901 is comprised by: i) R$ 5,855 was paid in cash; ii) R$ 454 of
consideration to be transferred; and iii) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up to R$ 1,793 is payable in relation to product development. The
contingent consideration of R$1,592 is based on the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date.
The acquisition of Shosp was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$188 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
Shosp has contributed R$ 1,376 of revenue and R$ 448 of income before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the acquisition had taken
place at the beginning of the period, revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 306 and income before income taxes for 2021 would have
been decreased by R$ 82.
F-44
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(f) Acquisition of UNIFIPMoc
On June 1, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the total share capital of Sociedade Padrão de Educação Superior Ltda. ("UNIFIPMoc”). The
aggregate purchase price is R$ 328,322 and the total amount was paid in cash. There are 40 additional seats still pending approval, which, if
approved by the Ministry of Education, will result in a potential additional payment of up to R$ 50,000. Given the future event that will trigger the
potential payout is not under the Company’s control, the probability of such payout cannot be reliably estimated and thus the contingent
consideration was not measured at acquisition date. Should the additional seats be approved it will result in additional licenses, which will be
measured accordingly if and when approved.
UNIFIPMoc is a post-secondary education institution with government authorization to offer on-campus, undergraduate courses in medicine in the
states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The acquisition is in line with the Company’s strategy to focus on medical education, including medical school.
The acquisition of UNIFIPMoc was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$177 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Undergrad segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible
assets acquired
Valuation technique
Licenses
With-and-without method
The with-and-without method consists of estimating the fair value of an asset by the difference between the value of this asset in two scenarios: a scenario
considering the existence of the asset in question and another considering its non-existence.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
The valuation technique for property and equipment consists of determining the fair value of an asset by using methodologies like replacement
costs, market value, remaining useful life and physical depreciation.
UNIFIPMoc has contributed R$ 69,887 of revenue and R$ 19,458 of income before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the acquisition
had taken place at the beginning of the period, revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 46,150 and income before income taxes for 2021
would have been increased by R$ 12,847.
F-45
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(g) Acquisition of UNIGRANRIO
On August 4, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of the total share capital of Companhia Nilza Cordeiro Herdy de Educação e Cultura, Instituto de
Ensino Superior de Palhoça S/S Ltda., Sociedade Educacional de Palhoça S/S Ltda., and Policlínica e Centro de Estética Duque de Caxias Ltda.
(combined denominated "Unigranrio”). The aggregate original purchase price of R$ 626,116 of which 60% was paid in cash on the transaction
closing date, and 40% is payable in cash in four equal installments through 2022 to 2025, adjusted by the CDI rate, was adjusted by R$7,160,
because of the actual net debt, to R$618,956. There are 82 additional seats still pending approval which, if approved by MEC, will result in a
potential additional payment of up to R$90,200. Given the future event that will trigger the potential payout is not under the Company’s control, the
probability of such payout cannot be reliably estimated and thus the contingent consideration was not measured at acquisition date. Should the
additional seats be approved it will result in additional licenses, which will be measured accordingly if and when approved.
Unigranrio is a post-secondary education institution with governmental authorization to offer on-campus, undergraduate degrees and graduate
programs in medicine and health, as well as other courses, in the State of Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina
The acquisition of Unigranrio was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$10,990 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Undergrad segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible
assets acquired
Valuation technique
Licenses
With-and-without method
The with-and-without method consists of estimating the fair value of an asset by the difference between the value of this asset in two scenarios: a scenario
considering the existence of the asset in question and another considering its non-existence.
Customer
Multi-period excess earnings method
relationships
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
The valuation technique for property and equipment consists of determining the fair value of an asset by using methodologies like replacement
costs, market value, remaining useful life and physical depreciation.
F-46
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Unigranrio has contributed R$ 123,369 of net revenue and R$ 33,450 of income before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the
acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the period, net revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 150,456 and income before
income taxes for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 22,191.
(h) Acquisition of RXPRO
On October 1, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of RX PRO, comprised of (i) RX PRO Soluções de Tecnologia Ltda. and (ii) RX PRO LOG
Transporte e Logistica Ltda..Soluções de Tenologia Ltda. RX PRO consists of a solution that connects physicians with the pharmaceutical industry,
providing specialized and personalized marketing for those companies, in a more convenient way for physicians. Afya’s intention is to reinforce the
Digital Services operating segment. The aggregate purchase price of R$45,622 is comprised by: i) R$ 30,263 was paid in cash; ii) R$ 76 to be paid
as price adjustment, iii) R$5,112 settled with Afya's treasury shares on the transaction closing date; and (iv) an earn-out ("contingent consideration”)
of R$ 21,000 is payable in relation to revenue achievements. The contingent consideration of R$10,171 is based on the present value of the
obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date.
The acquisition of RXPRO was accounted for under IFRS 3 – Business Combinations.
Transaction costs to date amount to R$264 and were expensed and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statement of income.
At the acquisition date, the fair value of the trade receivables acquired equals its carrying amount.
The goodwill recognized includes the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition, which is not separately recognized. Goodwill is
allocated entirely to Digital Services segment. The goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income taxes purposes.
The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of separately identified intangible assets acquired were as follows:
Intangible assets
acquired
Valuation technique
Trademark
Relief from royalty
This methodology is based on the market remuneration of the use license granted to third parties. The value of the asset is restated by the savings of
royalties that the owner would have to own the asset. It is necessary to determine a royalty rate that reflects the appropriate remuneration of the asset. The
royalty payments, net of taxes, are discounted to present value.
Customer
relationships
Multi-period excess earnings method
The method considers the present value of net cash flows expected to be generated by customer relationships, by excluding any cash flows related to
contributory assets.
Developed
technology
intangible
assets
Replacement cost
This methodology is based on the estimated cost of replacing the referred asset with a new one (acquisition or reconstruction), adjusted to reflect the
losses in value resulting from the physical deterioration and the functional and economic obsolescence of that asset.
RXPRO has contributed R$ 907 of net revenue and R$ 984 of loss before income taxes to the Company in 2021. Should the acquisition had taken
place at the beginning of the period, net revenue for 2021 would have been increased by R$ 3,155 and income before income taxes for 2021 would
have been decreased by R$ 325.
F-47
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Cash and cash equivalents
2022
2021
Cash and bank deposits
57,509
88,487
Cash equivalents
1,035,573
660,075
Cash and cash equivalents
1,093,082
748,562
Cash equivalents correspond mainly to financial investments in Bank Certificates of Deposit ("CDB”) with highly rated financial institutions and
investments funds managed by highly rated financial institutions. As of December 31, 2022, the average interest rate on these investments is
equivalent to 99.21% of the CDI rate (December 31, 2021 - 100.38%). These funds are available for immediate use and have insignificant risk of
changes in value. Cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars totaled R$24,447 as of December 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021: R$23,228).
Trade receivables
2022
2021
Tuition fees
356,074
279,915
Educational content (a)
50,913
69,227
FIES
62,325
61,342
Educational credits (b)
27,535
5,375
Mobile app subscription (c)
27,675
20,946
Others
14,923
14,001
539,445
450,806
(-) Allowance for doubtful accounts
(44,046)
(45,013)
495,399
405,793
Current
452,831
378,351
Non-current
42,568
27,442
(a)
Related to trade receivables from sales of printed books, e-books and medical courses through digital platform from Medcel, Além da Medicina and CardioPapers.
(b)
Related to trade receivables from special financing programs and balances outstanding from previous acquisitions.
(c)
Related to trade receivables from mobile applications subscriptions for digital medical content.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the aging of trade receivables was as follows:
2022
2021
Neither past due nor impaired
261,025
184,382
Past due
1 to 30 days
56,280
68,932
31 to 90 days
90,734
69,299
91 to 180 days
80,522
55,764
More than 180 days
50,884
72,429
539,445
450,806
F-48
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, was as follows:
2022
2021
2020
Balances at the beginning of the period
(45,013)
(32,980)
(14,763)
Additions
(42,708)
(47,819)
(32,081)
Write-offs
43,675
35,786
13,864
Balances at the end of the period
(44,046)
(45,013)
(32,980)
Related parties
The table below summarizes the balances and transactions with related parties:
2022
2021
Assets
Trade receivables (a)
917
692
Other assets (b)
1,975
-
Total
2,892
692
Current
2,892
692
Non-current
-
-
Liabilities
Accounts payable to selling shareholders (c)
30,653
54,556
Total
30,653
54,556
Current
30,653
27,278
Non-current
-
27,278
2022
2021
2020
Other income
UEPC (a)
477
752
104
477
752
104
Lease
RVL Esteves Gestão Imobiliária S.A.
20,394
15,336
11,288
UNIVAÇO Patrimonial Ltda.
3,409
3,210
2,915
IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda.
4,920
4,560
3,470
28,723
23,106
17,673
(a)
Refers to sales of educational content from Medcel to UEPC;
(b)
Refers to amounts to be reimbursed from Bertelsmann SE& Co. KGaA regarding the transaction on which the control of Afya was acquired;
(c)
Refers to amounts to be payable to our shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves regarding the agreement to which Afya Brazil acquired the right to develop ITPAC
Garanhuns medical school, a greenfield unit. The amount represents 50% of the transaction, due in two equal annual installments, adjusted by the CDI rate.
Lease agreements with RVL Esteves Gestão Imobiliária S.A.
Afya Brazil has entered into lease agreements with RVL Esteves Gestão Imobiliária S.A. ("RVL”), an entity controlled by the shareholder Nicolau
Carvalho Esteves and of which Mr. Renato Esteves is an executive officer, as described below:
F-49
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
On June 21, 2016, RVL entered into lease agreements (as amended on April 26, 2018) with ITPAC Araguaína and ITPAC Porto, pursuant to which
RVL agreed to lease campuses to those entities in the cities of Araguaína and Porto Nacional, both located in the State of Tocantins. The lease
agreements are adjustable in accordance with the provisions of each lease agreement. The lease agreements are for an initial term of 20 years,
and are renewable for an additional 20 years subject to the provisions of each lease agreement.
On November 1, 2016, RVL entered into a lease agreement with Afya Brazil, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to Afya Brazil certain offices
located in the city of Nova Lima, State of Minas Gerais, where Afya Brazil’s principal executive offices are located. On February 9, 2019, the
agreement was amended to extend lease terms and adjust the lease amounts, subject to certain discount conditions set forth in the lease
agreement and adjustable in accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is for an initial term of five years, and
may be renewable for an additional five years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement.
On September 6, 2018, RVL entered into a lease agreement with ITPAC Araguaína, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to ITPAC the new
ITPAC campus by RVL in the city of Palmas, State of Tocantins. The lease agreement is for an amount equal to 7.5% of the monthly revenue of
ITPAC during the prior semester, and will be effective (and become due) once the new ITPAC campus becomes operational, subject to the
provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 20 years and is renewable for an additional 20 years. As of
December 31, 2022, the campus is fully operational.
On October 30, 2019, RVL entered into a lease agreement with IPTAN, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to IPTAN the new IPTAN medical
campus, currently under construction by RVL in the city of Santa Inês, State of Maranhão. The lease agreement is for a monthly amount equal to (i)
up to June 2020, R$12 and (ii) from July 2020 until March 2024, 6.5% of the monthly revenue of IPTAN during the prior semester, adjusted in
accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 5 years starting when the campus becomes
operational, and may be renewable for an additional 5 years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. As of December 31, 2022, the
campus is fully operational.
On August 02, 2021, RVL entered into a lease agreement with ITPAC Araguaína, pursuant to which RVL agreed to lease to ITPAC the new ITPAC
Garanhuns medical campus, in the city of Garanhuns, State of Pernambuco. The lease agreement is for a monthly amount equal to (i) up to June
2022, R$40; (ii) from July 2022 until December 2028, 6.5% of the monthly revenue of ITPAC Garanhuns during the prior semester, adjusted in
accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement; and (iii) as from January 2029, the monthly amount should be adjusted by the inflation rate
(IPCA). The lease agreement is for a term of 20 years.
The lease payments in connection with the lease agreements with RVL totaled R$20,394, R$15,336 and R$11,288 in the years ended December
31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
F-50
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Lease agreement with UNIVAÇO Patrimonial Ltda.
On July 14, 2016, UNIVAÇO Patrimonial Ltda., an entity controlled by the shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and of which Ms. Rosângela
Esteves is the chief executive officer, entered into a lease agreement with UNIVAÇO, a subsidiary of Afya Brazil, pursuant to which UNIVAÇO
Patrimonial Ltda. agreed to lease the UNIVAÇO campus to UNIVAÇO, located in the city of Ipatinga, State of Minas Gerais. The lease agreement is
adjustable in accordance with the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 20 years, and is renewable for an
additional 20 years subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease payments in connection with this lease agreement totaled R$3,409,
R$3,210 and R$2,915 in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Lease agreement with IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda.
On April 25, 2018, IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda., an entity controlled by the shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves and of which Mr. Renato Esteves is
an executive officer, entered into a lease agreement with IESVAP, a subsidiary of Afya Brazil, pursuant to which IESVAP Patrimonial Ltda. agreed to
lease the IESVAP campus to IESVAP located in the city of Parnaíba, State of Piauí. The lease agreement is for an amount equal to 7.5% of the
monthly revenue of IESVAP until maturation. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 20 years, and is renewable for an additional 20 years
subject to the provisions of the lease agreement. The lease payments in connection with this lease agreement totaled R$4,920, R$4,560 and
R$3,470 in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Key management personnel compensation
Key management personnel compensation included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income comprised the following:
2022
2021
2020
Short-term employee benefits
13,564
11,933
9,629
Share-based compensation plan
13,116
20,251
23,989
26,680
32,184
33,618
Compensation of the Company’s key management includes short-term employee benefits comprised by salaries, labor and social charges, and
other ordinary short-term employee benefits. The costs of key management personnel are shared by the Company’s subsidiaries in accordance
with internal policies. The amounts disclosed in the table above are the amounts recognized as an expense in general and administrative expenses
during the reporting period related to key management personnel.
The executive officers participate in share-based compensation plans described in Note 16(b).
F-51
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Other assets
As of December 31, 2022, the Company has R$243,501 (R$ 222,839 on December 31, 2021) accounted for as Other assets as follow:
2022
2021
Indemnification assets (a)
145,300
135,355
Judicial deposits
12,693
18,825
Prepaid expenses
18,441
10,110
Other FIES receivables
26,440
21,450
Other
40,627
37,099
Total
243,501
222,839
Current
51,745
42,533
Non-current
191,756
180,306
(a)
Under the terms of the Share Purchase and Sale Agreements ("Agreements") between the Company and the selling shareholders of certain subsidiaries acquired, the
Company assesses that the selling shareholders are exclusively responsible for any provisions (including labor, tax and civil), which are or will be the subject of a
claim by any third party, arising from the act or fact occurred, by action or omission, prior to or on the closing dates of the acquisitions.
Investment in associate
The Company holds a 30% interest in UEPC, a medical school located in the Federal District that offers higher education and post-graduate
courses, both in person and long-distance learning. The Company’s interest in UEPC is accounted for using the equity method. The following table
illustrates the summarized financial information of the Company’s investment in UEPC:
2022
2021
Current assets
32,651
33,976
Non-current assets
122,378
109,805
Current liabilities
(22,840)
(35,049)
Non-current liabilities
(96,442)
(91,086)
Equity
35,747
17,646
Company’s share in equity – 30%
10,724
5,294
Goodwill
43,183
43,183
Carrying amount of the investment
53,907
48,477
2022
2021
2020
Net revenue
138,584
127,618
113,965
Cost of services
(57,421)
(57,935)
(55,926)
General and administrative expenses
(34,991)
(24,025)
(27,341)
Finance results
(4,103)
(4,585)
(4,882)
Income before income taxesz
42,069
41,073
25,816
Income taxes expenses
(1,456)
(1,748)
(252)
Net income for the period
40,613
39,325
25,564
Company’s share of income for the period
12,184
11,797
7,698
2022
2021
2020
Opening balance
48,477
51,410
45,634
Dividends received
(6,754)
(11,770)
-
Dividends receivable (included in Other assets)
-
(2,960)
(1,922)
Share of income
12,184
11,797
7,698
Closing balance
53,907
48,477
51,410
The Company tests at least annually the recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill. As of December 31, 2022 and 2022, no impairment had to
be recognized for this goodwill.
F-52
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Property and equipment
Cost
Building
Machinery
and
equipment
Lands
Vehicles
Furniture
and
fixtures
IT
equipment
Library
books
Laboratories
and clinics
Leasehold
improvements
Construction
in progress
Total
As of January 1, 2020
-
44,329
7,005
707
21,438
15,994
18,139
1,049
30,911
36,731
176,303
Additions
-
13,806
672
-
4,550
9,657
1,012
-
54,748
5,387
89,832
Business combinations
6,771
8,973
5,724
508
3,061
2,493
2,473
-
12,787
5,090
47,880
Transfer
19,148
1,395
-
-
82
367
-
(1,049)
23,559
(43,502)
-
As of December 31, 2020
25,919
68,503
13,401
1,215
29,131
28,511
21,624
-
122,005
3,706
314,015
Additions
1,384
10,268
5,451
111
21,075
19,511
3,392
-
4,720
59,957
125,869
Business combinations
-
12,810
-
346
16,684
10,138
5,142
-
17,425
3,078
65,623
Write-off *
62
(14,213)
-
(205)
2,862
(4,985)
(86)
-
(550)
(417)
(17,532)
Transfer
25,068
3
-
-
82
9
-
-
9,376
(34,538)
-
As of December 31, 2021
52,433
77,371
18,852
1,467
69,834
53,184
30,072
-
152,976
31,786
487,975
Additions
527
36,486
-
968
26,047
15,766
645
-
2,667
85,026
168,132
Business combinations
-
45
-
-
-
35
-
-
-
-
80
Write-off *
13
(8,159)
-
(933)
500
(6,992)
-
-
-
(78)
(15,649)
Transfer
38,884
(5,353)
-
(449)
(5,669)
6,600
6,645
-
(9,797)
(30,046)
815
As of December 31, 2022
91,857
100,390
18,852
1,053
90,712
68,593
37,362
-
145,846
86,688
641,353
Depreciation
As of January 1, 2020
-
(13,793)
-
(59)
(5,890)
(6,537)
(8,663)
(386)
(1,655)
-
(36,983)
Depreciation
-
(5,065)
-
(112)
(2,199)
(4,314)
(2,154)
(78)
(2,729)
-
(16,651)
Transfer
-
(464)
-
-
-
-
-
464
-
-
-
As of December 31, 2020
-
(19,322)
-
(171)
(8,089)
(10,851) (10,817)
-
(4,384)
-
(53,634)
Depreciation
(1,673)
(7,215)
-
(196)
(5,601)
(7,529)
(3,416)
-
(4,831)
-
(30,461)
Write-off *
-
10,146
-
147
1,194
3,458
633
-
350
-
15,928
As of December 31, 2021
(1,673)
(16,391)
-
(220)
(12,496)
(14,922) (13,600)
-
(8,865)
-
(68,167)
Depreciation
(3,472)
(11,166)
-
(284)
(7,725)
(10,140)
(3,415)
-
(8,849)
-
(45,051)
Write-off *
-
5,474
-
791
153
7,350
67
-
117
-
13,952
Transfer
(606)
1,453
-
1
9,719
(4,125)
(5,940)
-
(502)
-
-
As of December 31, 2022
(5,751)
(20,630)
-
288
(10,349)
(21,837) (22,888)
-
(18,099)
-
(99,266)
Net book value
As of December 31, 2022
86,106
79,760
18,852
1,341
80,363
46,756
14,474
-
127,747
86,688
542,087
As of December 31, 2021
50,760
60,980
18,852
1,247
57,338
38,262
16,472
-
144,111
31,786
419,808
*
Refers to items written-off as result of lack of expectation of future use, in connection with the Company’s physical inventory procedures.
The Company assesses at each reporting date, whether there is an indication that a property and equipment asset may be impaired. If any
indication exists, the Company estimates the asset’s recoverable amount. There were no indications of impairment of property and equipment as of
and for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
F-53
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Intangible assets and goodwill
Goodwill
Licenses with
indefinite useful
life (i)
Trademark
Customer
relationships
Software
Education
content
Developed
technology
Educational
platform
Software in
progress
Other
Total
Cost
As of January 1, 2020
459,409
703,772
32,111
125,413
9,389
17,305
-
12,191
2,050
-
1,361,640
Additions
-
-
-
-
4,175
-
-
15,227
247
19,649
Disposals
-
-
-
-
(460)
-
-
-
-
(460)
Business combinations
351,247
747,498
42,903
158,126
3,117
-
355
484
-
1,303,730
As of December 31, 2020
810,656
1,451,270
75,014
283,539
16,221
17,305
355
27,902
2,297
-
2,684,559
Additions (iv)
-
108,000
-
684
3,044
-
996
39,686
23,700
-
176,110
Write-off *
-
-
-
-
1,020
-
-
(2,743)
(417)
-
(2,140)
Business combinations
373,680
606,136
58,355
147,054
1,474
-
33,046
11,599
3,267
-
1,234,611
As of December 31, 2021
1,184,336
2,165,406
133,369
431,277
21,759
17,305
34,397
76,444
28,847
-
4,093,140
Additions (ii) (i)
39,100
24,408
-
80
1,423
11,231
32,879
14,761
26,141
-
150,023
Write-off
-
-
(22)
-
(381)
(7)
-
(9)
(28)
-
(447)
Remeasurement (iii)
(8,637)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(8,637)
Transfer
-
-
(2,472)
530
20,466
38,433
17,953
(35,499)
(40,226)
-
(815)
Business combinations
42,246
-
51,185
3,929
33
2,627
5,520
-
-
1,055
106,595
As of December 31, 2022
1,257,045
2,189,814
182,060
435,816
43,300
69,589
90,749
55,697
14,734
1,055
4,339,859
Amortization
As of January 1, 2020
-
-
(1,150)
(37,872)
(4,536)
(4,876)
-
(868)
-
(49,302)
Amortization
-
-
(2,352)
(47,960)
(2,180)
(2,816)
(32)
(7,367)
-
(62,707)
Disposals
-
-
-
-
460
-
-
-
-
460
As of December 31, 2020
-
-
(3,502)
(85,832)
(6,256)
(7,692)
(32)
(8,235)
-
-
(111,549)
Amortization
-
-
(5,027)
(56,438)
(5,844)
(8,980)
(625)
(3,608)
-
-
(80,522)
Write-off
-
-
-
-
(599)
-
-
365
-
-
(234)
As of December 31, 2021
-
-
(8,529)
(142,270)
(12,699)
(16,672)
(657)
(11,478)
-
-
(192,305)
Amortization
-
-
(6,426)
(70,093)
(4,943)
(9,634)
(9,436)
(5,874)
-
(79)
(106,485)
Write-off
-
-
-
-
365
57
-
-
-
-
422
Transfer
-
-
-
-
(313)
-
313
-
-
-
As of December 31, 2022
-
-
(14,955)
(212,363)
(17,277)
(26,562)
(10,093)
(17,039)
-
(79)
(298,368)
Net book value
As of December 31, 2022
1,257,045
2,189,814
167,105
223,453
26,023
43,027
80,656
38,658
14,734
976
4,041,491
As of December 31, 2021
1,184,336
2,165,406
124,840
289,007
9,060
633
33,740
64,966
28,847
-
3,900,835
*
Refers to intangible assets written-off as result of lack of expectation of future use.
(i)
On March 18, 2022, Afya announced that MEC authorized the increase of 28 seats of Centro Universitário São Lucas, in Ji-Parana located in the state of Rondônia. The
earn-out related to the seats approval is R$800 per seat, adjusted by the CDI rate from the closing until the payment date, of which 50% was paid in April 2022 and the
remaining amount is payable in cash in two equal installments through 2024.
(ii)
During the measurement period, the goodwill for the acquisition of Unigranrio was adjusted by R$39,100 (R$130,073 initial goodwill) as a result of an increase of
liabilities regarding tax contingencies.
(iii)
During the measurement period, R$8,637 of goodwill (R$38,446 initial goodwill) arising from the acquisition of RXPRO was reduced, in connection with
management’s view of remote likelihood of RXPRO achieving the revenue goals stablished at the terms of the earn-out.
(iv)
On November 05, 2021 Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education ("MEC") authorized the operation of 120 medical
school seats in Garanhuns, for which our shareholder Nicolau Carvalho Esteves entered into an agreement with Afya Brazil pursuant to which he assigned to Afya
Brazil the right to develop the ITPAC Garanhuns greenfield unit, a medical school in the city of Garanhuns, State of Pernambuco. Management assessed the aspects of
such transaction and concluded that the transaction does not fall under the definition of business, but an acquisition of license with indefinite useful life recognized in
intangible assets. Total purchase price was R$108,000 of which 50% was paid in cash on the transaction closing date and 50% in two equal annual installments,
adjusted by the CDI rate.
Licenses with indefinite useful life include intangible assets acquired through business combinations. The licenses for medicine and other courses
granted by the Ministry of Education ("MEC”) to the companies acquired have no expiration date and the Company has determined that these
assets have indefinite useful lives.
F-54
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
For impairment testing goodwill and licenses with indefinite useful lives acquired through business combinations are allocated to CGUs.
The Company performed its annual impairment test on December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
The Company tests at least annually the recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill and licenses with indefinite useful lives for each CGU. The
Company determines the recoverable amount of its CGUs based on the value-in-use. The process of estimating these values involves the use of
assumptions, judgments and estimates of future cash flows that represent the Company's best estimate.
There was no impairment for goodwill and licenses with indefinite useful lives as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
The carrying amounts of goodwill and licenses with indefinite useful life by CGU and their carrying amount as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 were
as follows:
Carrying amount
CGU
Goodwill
Licenses with indefinite useful life
CGU
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
IPTAN
17,446
17,446
57,214
57,214
126,024
140,522
IESVAP
27,956
27,956
81,366
81,366
129,305
112,260
CCSI
4,664
4,664
56,737
56,737
53,540
49,030
IESP
73,838
73,838
179,693
179,693
322,968
346,286
FADEP
49,661
49,661
70,606
70,606
153,100
153,791
FASA
58,903
58,903
144,507
144,507
314,967
302,330
IPEMED
87,647
87,647
-
-
192,079
126,965
IPEC
-
-
108,000
108,000
148,067
131,360
UniRedentor
77,662
77,662
121,477
121,477
242,600
246,320
UniSL*
4,420
4,420
273,795
249,387
398,492
305,044
FESAR
71,664
71,664
141,616
141,616
244,084
279,038
FCMPB
110,483
110,483
235,018
235,018
415,453
401,244
ITPAC Garanhuns
-
-
108,000
108,000
112,628
107,232
Medical Harbour
-
4,022
-
-
-
9,150
Content & Technology for medical education (Pillar 1)
169,975
139,294
-
-
279,684
235,300
Practice Management Tools & Electronic Prescription (Pillar 3)
106,774
113,362
-
-
216,297
227,909
Clinical Decision Software (Pillar 2)
87,018
87,018
-
-
153,526
147,592
Cliquefarma
6,588
-
-
-
20,045
-
Moc
87,777
87,777
190,247
190,247
369,007
356,789
Unigranrio
169,173
130,073
421,538
421,538
854,861
630,185
RXPRO*
29,809
38,446
-
-
36,675
46,788
Glic
15,587
-
-
-
31,022
-
Total
1,257,045
1,184,336
2,189,814
2,165,406
4,814,424
4,355,135
*
See Note 12 for further details on goodwill changes between 2021 and 2022.
Pillar 1: during 2022, Além da Medicina and CardioPapers were added to Content & Technology for medical education Pillar. Also, Medical Harbour joined Pillar 1 in 2022. Medcel has been disclosed
as Pillar’s predecessor. All of these entities are internally related and engaged on providing educational tools and technical medical content for physicians throughout their careers. Products originally
from each entity are often combined offered to our clients.
Pillar 3: During 2022, Cliquefarma was moved by management from pillar "Practice Management Tools & Electronic Prescription” to a separate cash generating unit in connection with an internal
restructuring which results in segregation of the CGU.
F-55
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Moc: the cash generating unit is composed by UnifipMoc and ESMC legal entities, due to geographical characteristics and integration of the business, which was approved by the Board of Directors.
The main assumptions used by the Company to determine the value in use of the CGUs were:
Student enrollment – refer to the number of students that are currently enrolled in each CGU. Growth of students enrolled considers maturation of operations, limited
by regulatory seats approved for each CGU.
Tuition fees – is the monthly fee charged to students. Tuition fees are consistent to Management best expectations on prices charged and considers inflation for
future periods.
Occupancy rate – the occupancy rate of the medical schools is the ratio of the number of students effectively enrolled divided by the regulatory capacity in a given
period.
Regulatory capacity – the regulatory capacity is defined by the number of medical schools seats available per year awarded by MEC, multiplied by the number of
years of operations since the seats were awarded.
Faculty – refer to the cost with faculty in the CGU, which means the amount paid to teachers and doctors.
Digital content platform users – refer to mobile app subscription, clinical management system, healthcare payments, medical imaging, online courses for digital
content users and marketing for pharmaceutical industry. Business assumptions includes managements best expectations on long term targets for digital services
segment operations, including total addressable market, market share and target prices including inflation.
Capital expenditure – refers to investments to be made on intangible assets related to developments and platform improvements especially on the digital services
CGUs.
Discount rates - discount rates represent the current market assessment of the risks specific to the CGU being tested. The pre-tax discount rate applied to cash flow
projections is between 13.14% and 15.40% in 2022 (12.10% in 2021).
Perpetuity growth rate – refers to growth rate considered by management on long term periods after the explicit projection period of 5 years. The growth rates ranges
from 3% to 7.3%.
Significant estimate: impact of possible changes in key assumptions
An increase of 25 basis points in management’s estimated discount rate applied to the cash flow projections of each CGU for the year ended December 31, 2022, or
a decrease of 25 basis points on estimated EBITDA would have not resulted in significant impacts on these financial statements.
Other intangible assets
Intangible assets, other than goodwill and licenses with indefinite useful lives, are valued separately for each acquisition and are amortized during
each useful life. The useful lives and methods of amortization of other intangibles are reviewed at each financial year end and adjusted
prospectively, if appropriate.
The estimated useful lives of intangible assets are as follows:
Customer relationships – medicine
6 years
Customer relationships – other courses
4.5 years
Software license
5 years
Education content
3 years
Trademarks
2 - 30 years
Developed technology
5 years
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, there were no indicatives that the Company’s intangible assets with finite useful lives
might be impaired.
F-56
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Financial assets and financial liabilities
13.1
Financial assets
Financial assets
2022
2021
At amortized cost
Trade receivables
495,399
405,793
Total
495,399
405,793
Current
452,831
378,351
Non-current
42,568
27,442
Financial instruments at amortized cost include trade receivables.
13.2
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities
2022
2021
At amortized cost
Trade payables
71,482
59,098
Loans and financing
1,882,901
1,374,876
Lease liabilities
769,525
714,085
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
528,678
679,826
Notes payable
62,176
72,726
Advances from customers
133,050
114,585
Total
3,447,812
3,015,196
Current
706,080
581,685
Non-current
2,741,732
2,433,511
13.2.1Loans and financing
Financial institution
Currency
Interest rate
Maturity
2022
2021
Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A.(a)
Brazilian real
CDI + 1.90% p.y.
2025
518,134
510,972
FINEP (b)
Brazilian real
TJLP p.y.
2027
8,418
10,145
Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A. (c)
Brazilian real
CDI + 1.75% p.y.
2024
32,252
31,199
Softbank (d)
Brazilian real
6.5% p.y.
2026
824,258
822,560
Debentures (e)
Brazilian real
CDI + 1.80 p.y.
2028
499,839
-
1,882,901
1,374,876
Current
145,202
128,720
Non-current
1,737,699
1,246,156
(a) On October 1, 2020, Afya Brazil entered into a loan with Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A. in the amount of R$ 500,000 adjusted by the CDI rate plus
an interest rate of 1.62% per year and is repayable in three installments in October 2022, April 2023 and October 2023. This agreement has
financial covenants and the Company should not reduce its EBITDA by 50% or more year over year. As of December 31, 2022, the
Company is compliant with all obligations set forth in this agreement.
On September 28, 2022 Afya signed an amendment with Banco Itau Unibanco S.A in order to extend its debt profile, postponing the original
repayments dates from 2022 and 2023 to 2023, 2024 and 2025. Due to such extension, the spread over CDI rate increased from 1.62% p.y to
1.90% p.y.
(b) On July 23, 2019, Medcel entered into a loan of R$ 16,153 with Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos ("FINEP”), a governmental agency
focused on financing investments on R&D, which has an interest rate based on TJLP (Long term interest rate), and maturity in 2027. The
first and second tranches of R$6,734 and R$4,130, respectively, were drawdown in October 2019 and December 2020, respectively, in
order to develop the Medical web series and other digital content. There is no financial covenant related to this agreement. The total balance
is guaranteed by a bank financial guarantee.
F-57
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(c) On October 28, 2020, UNIFIPmoc entered into a loan with Banco Itaú Unibanco S.A. in the amount of R$ 30,000. On June 30, 2021 this
agreement was amended and is now adjusted by the CDI rate plus an interest rate of 1.75% per year and is repayable in three installments in
July 2023, January 2024 and July 2024. There is no financial covenant related to this agreement.
(d) On April 26, 2021, the Company issued and sold 150,000 shares of perpetual convertible preferred shares designated as Series A perpetual
convertible preferred shares, with a par value of U.S.$0.00005 per share of the Company for US$150,000 thousands, equivalent to R$
821,805 on the issuance date. The Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares is a class of equity security that ranks senior to the
common shares with respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation.
Each Series A perpetual convertible preferred share is entitled to a cash dividend of 6.5% per annum and is convertible, at the holder’s discretion,
into the Company’s Class A common shares at an initial conversion price of US$25.35. The Company may require the conversion of any or all of
the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares at any time on or after the three-year anniversary of the original issuance date if certain
conditions set forth in the certificate of designation are met (if for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days prior, Afya’s stock price is equal or above
150% of the conversion rate). The Company may also redeem any or all of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares for cash, shares of
its common shares or a combination thereof at its election, at any time on or after the seven-year anniversary of the original issuance date as
determined in the certificate of designation. On or after the five-year anniversary of the original issuance date, the holders of the Series A convertible
perpetual preferred shares shall have the right to redeem all of the outstanding Series A convertible perpetual preferred shares for cash, the
Company’s common shares or a combination thereof (at the Company’s election, subject to certain conditions) to be determined in the certificate of
designation. Upon the occurrence of a change of control, the holders will have the right to redeem their Series A convertible perpetual preferred
shares for cash at a price set forth in the certificate of designation.
The Series A convertible perpetual preferred shares will be entitled with the same voting rights of the common shares only when converted into it.
The Company determined that the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares should be classified as financial liability at amortized cost upon
their issuance since is redeemable primarily according to the decision of the holder and there is a contractual obligation to deliver assets (cash,
shares of its common shares or a combination thereof) that could not be avoided by the Company in an event of redemption. The financial liability is
denominated in Brazilian Reais and thus not subject to foreign exchange changes.
In addition, as the entire instrument is classified as a liability, the embedded put option to redeem the Series A perpetual convertible preferred
shares for cash is an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative will not be treated separately once the exercise price of the option is closely
related to the host contract.
The initial transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares were measured at fair
value together with the financial liability on initial measurement. The transaction costs totaled R$13,030, including legal counsels and advisors.
F-58
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(e) On December 16, 2022, Afya announced the closing of the issuance, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Afya Brazil, of 500,000 simple, non-
convertible, unsecured debentures in a single series, each with a par value of R$1, totaling an aggregate amount of R$500.000, by means of a
public distribution with restricted placement efforts in the Brazilian market, under the terms of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission
("CVM”) Rule No. 476. Afya expects to use the proceeds of the Offering for general corporate purposes, strengthening its cash position, and
extending its debt maturity profile. The Debentures were issued with a maturity date of January 15, 2028, with the principal to be amortized in two
equal installments payable on January 15, 2027 and January 15, 2028, corresponding to the fourth and fifth years of the transaction, respectively.
The Debentures bear interest at 100% of the CDI rate (the average of interbank overnight rates in Brazil, based on 252 business days) plus 1.80%
per year, payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, until the Maturity Date.
This transaction is subject to certain obligations including financial covenants. According to this offering, Afya shall maintain net debt (excluding
Softbank transaction and lease liabilities) to adjusted EBITDA ratio below or equal to 3.0 x, at the end of each fiscal year, until maturity date.
Adjusted EBITDA considers net income plus (i) income taxes expenses, (ii) net financial result (excluding interest expenses on lease liabilities), (iii)
depreciation and amortization expenses (excluding right-of-use depreciation expenses), (iv) share-based compensation expenses, (v) share of
income of associate, (vi) interest received and (vii) non-recurring expenses. As of December 31, 2022, the Company is compliant with all
obligations set forth in the deed of issuance.
The transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of debentures were measured at fair value together with the financial liability on
initial measurement. The transaction costs totaled R$3,115, including legal counsels and advisors.
13.2.2Leases
The Company has lease contracts for properties. The lease contracts generally have maturities in the lease terms between 5 and 30 years. There
are no sublease or variable payments in-substance lease agreements in the period.
F-59
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The carrying amounts of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the movements during the
years are described below:
Right-of-use assets
Lease liabilities
As of January 1, 2021
419,074
447,703
Additions
62,689
62,689
Remeasurement
95,962
95,962
Business combinations
139,514
139,514
Depreciation expense
(43,237)
-
Interest expense
-
67,212
Payments of lease liabilities
-
(87,751)
Write-off
(10,316)
(11,244)
As of December 31, 2021
663,686
714,085
Additions
42,250
42,250
Remeasurement
58,623
58,623
Depreciation expense
(54,684)
-
Interest expense
-
88,571
Payments of lease liabilities
-
(113,512)
Write-off (a)
(19,802)
(20,492)
As of December 31, 2022
690,073
769,525
As of December 31, 2021
Current
-
24,955
Non-current
663,686
689,130
As of December 31, 2022
Current
-
32,459
Non-current
690,073
737,066
(a)
Refers to anticipated termination of real estate leasing contracts.
The Company recognized lease expense from short-term leases and low-value assets of R$12,153 for the year ended December 31, 2022
(R$11,229 and R$2,555 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively).
13.2.3Accounts payable to selling shareholders
2022
2021
Acquisition of FASA (a)
-
41,581
Acquisition of IPEMED (b)
22,654
30,233
Acquisition of UniRedentor (c)
72,064
85,506
Acquisition of UniSãoLucas (d)
37,301
42,672
Acquisition of FCMPB (e)
111,755
149,175
Acquisition of Medicinae (f)
-
3,887
Acquisition of Medical Harbour (g)
4,053
6,801
Acquisition of Cliquefarma (h)
-
3,050
Acquisition of Shosp (i)
2,206
2,141
Acquisition of Unigranrio (j)
216,716
249,979
Acquisition of RXPRO (k)
1,781
10,245
Acquisition of Guaranhuns (l)
30,653
54,556
Acquisition of Além da Medicina (m)
11,996
-
Acquisition of CardioPapers (n)
7,979
-
Acquisition of Glic (o)
9,520
-
528,678
679,826
Current
261,711
239,849
Non-current
266,967
439,977
F-60
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
2022
2021
2020
Opening balance
679,826
518,240
300,237
Cash flows (i)
(261,188)
(192,681)
(134,518)
Acquisition of licenses (ii)
24,408
54,000
-
Interest
68,064
31,915
13,884
Reversals (iii)
(10,353)
-
-
Consideration to be transferred on business combinations
-
243,816
343,140
Consideration to be transferred on business combinations (Earn-outs)
27,921
24,536
-
Compensation of legal proceedings disbursement
-
-
(4,503)
Closing balance
528,678
679,826
518,240
(i)
R$30,174 were paid as license addition regarding Garanhuns acquisition On March 18, 2022, Afya announced that MEC authorized the increase of 28 seats of Centro
Universitário São Lucas, in Ji-Parana located in the state of Rondônia. The earn-out related to the seats approval is R$800 per seat, adjusted by the CDI rate from the
closing until the payment date, of which 50% was paid in April 2022 and the remaining amount is payable in cash in two equal installments through 2024.
(ii)
R$8,637 and R$1,716 of contingent consideration from the acquisition of RXPRO and Medicinae, respectively, was reduced, in connection with management’s view
of remote likelihood of achieving goals stablished at the terms of the earn-out.
(a) On April 3, 2019, Afya Brazil acquired 90% of FASA and R$ 39,695 was paid in April 2020, R$ 29,770 was paid in April, 2021, and R$ 29,770
was payable in April 2022; each installment adjusted by the IPCA rate + 4.1% per year.
(b) On May 9, 2019, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of IPEMED and R$ 45,303 is payable in five equal installments of R$ 9,061, adjusted by the CDI
rate, and due annually in February 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
(c) On January 31, 2020, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of UniRedentor and R$100,000 is payable in five equal installments from January 2021
through July 2024, adjusted by the CDI rate. The purchase consideration was adjusted by R$4,503 and such amount was deducted from the
first installment paid in February 2021.
(d) On May 5, 2020, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of UniSL and R$ 60,456 is payable in three equal installments through May 2023, adjusted by the
CDI rate. The purchase consideration was adjusted by R$7,816 and such amount was deducted from the first installment paid on May 5,
2021.
(e) On November 9, 2020, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of FCMPB and R$ 188,894 is payable in four installments through November 2024,
adjusted by the CDI rate.
(f)
On March 25, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Medicinae and an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up of R$ 4,400 was payable in
connection with product development goals for 2021 and revenue achievements for 2022. The remaining contingent consideration was
reduced by R$1,716 because the goals for 2022 were not achieved.
(g) On April 8, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Medical Harbour and an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of R$ 9,000 is payable in relation
to product development goals for 2021 and 2022 and revenue achievements for 2023. The contingent consideration of R$4,053 is based on
the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date, and no relevant impacts were identified by
management from the acquisition date.
(h) On April 16, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Cliquefarma and an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of R$ 3,000, adjusted by the CDI
rate, is payable in relation to product development. The contingent consideration was paid on May 2022.
F-61
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
(i)
On May 13, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Shosp and R$ 454 will be paid, and an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up to R$ 1,793
is payable in relation to product development. The contingent consideration of R$ 2,206 is based on the present value of the obligation
considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date, and no relevant impacts were identified by management from the acquisition
date.
(j)
On August 4, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Unigranrio. The adjusted aggregate purchase price is R$ 618,956 of which 60% was paid in
cash on the transaction closing date, and 40% is payable in cash in four equal installments through 2022 to 2025, adjusted by the CDI rate.
(k) On October 01, 2021, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of RXPRO and an earn-out ("contingent consideration”) of up to R$ 21,000 is payable in
relation to revenue achievements until 2024. The contingent consideration of R$1,781 is based on the present value of the obligation
considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date, and no relevant impacts were identified by management from the acquisition
date.
(l)
On November 05, 2021, Afya Brazil concluded the acquisition of 100% of ITPAC Garanhuns and R$54,000 was paid in cash on the
transaction closing date, and (ii) R$54,000 is payable in two equal installments, adjusted by the CDI rate, and due annually at the end of the
first and the second year from the transaction closing date.
(m) On March 4, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Além da Medicina and an earn-out of up to R$19,200 is payable in connection with revenue
target achievements and product development goals for 2023 and 2024. The contingent consideration of R$11,074 is based on the present
value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date, and no relevant impacts were identified by
management from the acquisition date. The purchase consideration was adjusted by R$763 in favor of the selling shareholders.
(n) On April 5, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of CardioPapers and an earn-out of up to R$15,000 is payable in connection with revenue target
achievements and other goals regarding credentials in the market for 2023 and 2024. The contingent consideration of R$7,422 is based on
the present value of the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date, and no relevant impacts were identified by
management from the acquisition date. The purchase consideration was adjusted by R$333 in favor of Afya.
(o) On March 23, 2022, Afya Brazil acquired 100% of Glic and an earn-out of up to R$12,000 is payable in connection with revenue target
achievements for 2023 and 2024 and product development goals. The contingent consideration of R$8,995 is based on the present value of
the obligation considering the facts and circumstances at the acquisition date, and no relevant impacts were identified by management from
the acquisition date.
F-62
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
13.2.4Notes payable
With the acquisition of UniSL, Afya Brazil assumed notes payable regarding the previous acquisition of a portion of the operations of Universidade
Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA) by UniSL in auction by the end of 2018. Two of the UniSL campuses, located in the cities of Ji-Paraná and Porto Velho
in the State of Rondônia, were acquired in such transaction. As of December 31, 2022, the notes payable of R$62,176 has a final maturity in 2023
and is adjusted by 100% of IPCA-E.
Set out below are the carrying amount of notes payable and the movements during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Notes payable
As of January 1, 2021
76,181
Payments (*)
(11,068)
Monetary indexation
7,613
As of December 31, 2021
72,726
Payments (*)
(15,008)
Monetary indexation
4,458
As of December 31, 2022
62,176
As of December 31, 2021
Current liabilities
14,478
Non-current liabilities
58,248
As of December 31, 2022
Current liabilities
62,176
Non-current liabilities
-
(*)
The amounts have been included on the investing activities of the cash flow statement.
13.3
Fair values
The table below is a comparison of the carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, other than those carrying amounts
that are reasonable approximation of fair values:
2022
2021
Carrying amount
Fair value
Carrying amount
Fair value
Financial assets
Trade receivables (non-current)
42,568
42,568
27,442
27,442
Total
42,568
42,568
27,442
27,442
Financial liabilities
Loans and financing
1,882,901
1,934,295
1,374,876
1,387,136
Lease liabilities
769,525
769,525
714,085
714,085
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
528,678
528,678
679,826
679,826
Notes payable
62,176
62,176
72,726
72,726
Total
3,243,280
3,294,674
2,841,513
2,853,773
The Company assessed that the fair values of current trade receivables and other current assets, trade payables, advances from customers and
other current liabilities approximate their carrying amounts largely due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.
F-63
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The fair value of interest-bearing borrowings and loans are determined by using the DCF method using discount rate that reflects the issuer’s
borrowing rate as of the end of the reporting period. The own non-performance risk at December 31, 2022 was assessed to be insignificant.
13.4
Financial instruments risk management objectives and policies
The Company’s principal financial liabilities comprise loans and financing, lease liabilities, accounts payable to selling shareholders, notes payable,
trade payables and advances from customers. The main purpose of these financial liabilities is to finance the Company’s operations. The
Company’s principal financial assets include trade receivables and cash and cash equivalents.
The Company is exposed to market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company monitors market, credit and liquidity risks in line with the
objectives in capital management and counts with the support, monitoring and oversight of the Board of Directors in decisions related to capital
management and its alignment with the objectives and risks. The Company’s policy is that no trading of derivatives for speculative purposes may be
undertaken. The Board of Directors reviews and agrees with policies for managing each of these risks, which are summarized below.
13.4.1Financial instruments risk management objectives and policies
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. The
Company’s exposure to market risk is related to interest rate risk and foreign currency risk.
The sensitivity analysis in the following sections relate to the position as of December 31, 2022.
(i) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates.
The Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Company’s cash equivalents, loans and financing,
accounts payable to selling shareholders and notes payable, with floating interest rates.
F-64
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Sensitivity analysis
The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in interest rates on cash equivalents, loans and financing and
accounts payable to selling shareholders and notes payable. With all variables held constant, the Company’s income before income taxes is
affected through the impact on floating interest rates, as follows:
2022
Index – % per year
Base rate
Cash equivalents
1,011,126
99.21% of CDI
136,928
Debentures
(499,839)
CDI + 1.80%
(77,225)
Loans and financing
(518,134)
CDI + 1.90%
(80,570)
Loans and financing
(32,252)
CDI + 1.75%
(4,966)
Loans and financing
(8,418)
TJLP
(620)
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
(491,143)
CDI
(67,041)
Notes payable
(62,176)
IPCA
(3,600)
Net exposure
(97,094)
Increase in basis points
+75
+150
Effect on profit before tax
(4,504)
(9,010)
2021
Index – % per year
Base rate
Cash equivalents
636,847
100.38% CDI
5,844
Loans and financing
(510,972)
CDI + 1,62%
(55,032)
Loans and financing
(31,199)
CDI + 1,75%
(3,401)
Loans and financing
(10,145)
TJLP
(617)
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
(612,121)
CDI
(56,009)
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
(41,581)
IPCA + 4,1%
(1,708)
Notes payable
(72,726)
IPCA
(531)
Net exposure
(111,454)
Increase in basis points
+75
+150
Effect on profit before tax
(4,814)
(9,628)
(ii) Foreign currency risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of exposure will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. The
Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates relates to cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars in the
amount of R$24,447 as of December 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021: R$23,228).
F-65
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Foreign currency sensitivity
The following table demonstrates the sensitivity in the Company’s income before income taxes of a 10% change in the U.S. dollar exchange rate
(R$5.2171 to U.S. dollar 1.00) as of December 31, 2022, with all other variables held constant.
Exposure
+10%
-10%
As of December 31, 2022
Cash equivalents
24,447
2,445
(2,445)
13.4.2Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument or customer contract, leading to a financial loss.
The Company is exposed to credit risk from its operating activities (primarily trade receivables) and from its financing activities, including cash and
cash equivalents.
Customer credit risk is managed by the Company based on the established policy, procedures and control relating to customer credit risk
management. Outstanding customer receivables are regularly monitored. See Note 7for additional information on the Company’s trade receivables.
Credit risk from balances with banks and financial institutions is managed by the Company’s treasury department in accordance with the
Company’s policy. Investments of surplus funds are made only with approved counterparties and within limits assigned to each counterparty.
The Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk for the components of the statements of financial position on December 31, 2022 and December
31, 2021 is the carrying amounts of its financial assets.
13.4.3Liquidity risk
The Company’s Management has responsibility for monitor liquidity risk. In order to achieve the Company’s objective, Management regularly
reviews the risk and maintains appropriate reserves, including bank credit facilities with first tier financial institutions. Management also continuously
monitors projected and actual cash flows and the combination of the maturity profiles of the financial assets and liabilities.
The main requirements for financial resources used by the Company arise from the need to make payments for suppliers, operating expenses,
labor and social obligations, loans and financing and accounts payable to selling shareholders.
F-66
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The tables below summarize the maturity profile of the Company’s financial liabilities based on contractual undiscounted amounts:
As of December 31, 2022
Less than 1 year
1 to 3 years
3 to 5 years
More than 5
years
Total
Trade payables
71,482
-
-
-
71,482
Loans and financing
287,741
788,190
1,237,599
-
2,313,530
Lease liabilities
117,506
234,688
219,127
1,139,771
1,711,092
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
282,481
339,281
-
-
621,762
Notes payable
62,176
-
-
-
62,176
Advances from customers
133,050
-
-
-
133,050
954,436
1,362,159
1,456,726
1,139,771
4,913,092
As of December 31, 2021
Less than 1 year
1 to 3 years
3 to 5 years
More than 5
years
Total
Trade payables
59,098
-
-
-
59,098
Loans and financing
217,903
585,686
948,503
1,212
1,753,304
Lease liabilities
103,003
211,894
204,744
1,108,555
1,628,196
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
246,059
445,066
88,989
-
780,114
Notes payable
15,644
74,306
-
-
89,950
Advances from customers
114,585
-
-
-
114,585
756,292
1,316,952
1,242,236
1,109,767
4,425,247
13.5
Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities
January 1, 2022
Payments
Additions
Interest
Business
combinations
Other
December 31, 2022
Loans and financing
1,374,876
(118,378)
496,885
127,559
-
1,959
1,882,901
Lease liabilities
714,085
(113,512)
100,873
88,571
-
(20,492)
769,525
Dividends payable
-
(19,736)
19,736
-
-
-
-
Total
2,088,961
(251,626)
617,494
216,130
-
(18,533)
2,652,426
January 1, 2021
Payments
Additions *
Interest
Business
combinations
Other
December 31, 2021
Loans and financing
617,485
(158,076)
809,539
68,909
36,591
428
1,374,876
Lease liabilities
447,703
(87,751)
158,651
67,212
139,514
(11,244)
714,085
Dividends payable
-
(18,648)
18,648
-
-
-
-
Total
1,065,188
(264,475)
986,838
136,121
176,105
(10,816)
2,088,961
*
The additions of loans and financing include proceeds from the SoftBank transaction of R$822,569, net of the transaction costs of R$13,030.
January 1,
2020
Payments
Additions
Interest
Foreign
exchange
movement
Business
combinations
Other
December 31, 2020
Loans and financing
60,357
(155,090)
605,041
10,031
21,279
75,815
52
617,485
Lease liabilities
284,515
(55,455)
98,904
44,458
-
76,855
(1,574)
447,703
Dividends payable
-
(12,984)
12,984
-
-
-
-
-
Total
344,872
(223,529)
716,929
54,489
21,279
152,670
(1,522)
1,065,188
F-67
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Fair value measurement
The following table provides the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Company’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and December
31, 2021.
Fair value measurement
Total
Quoted prices in active
markets (Level 1)
Significant observable
inputs (Level 2)
Significant
unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2022
Assets for which fair values are disclosed
Trade receivables (non-current)
42,568
-
42,568
-
Liabilities for which fair values are disclosed
Loans and financing
(1,934,295)
-
(1,934,295)
-
Lease liabilities
(769,525)
-
(769,525)
-
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
(528,678)
-
(528,678)
-
Notes payable
(62,176)
-
(62,176)
-
December 31, 2021
Assets for which fair values are disclosed
Trade receivables (non-current)
27,442
-
27,442
-
Liabilities for which fair values are disclosed
Loans and financing
(1,387,136)
-
(1,387,136)
-
Lease liabilities
(714,085)
-
(714,085)
-
Accounts payable to selling shareholders
(679,826)
-
(679,826)
-
Notes payable
(72,726)
-
(72,726)
-
There were no transfers between Levels during the period or year presented.
Capital management
For the purposes of the Company’s capital management, capital considers total equity. The primary objective of the Company’s capital
management is to maximize the shareholder value.
The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments in light of changes in economic conditions and the requirements of the financial
covenants.
In order to achieve this overall objective, the Company’s capital management, among other things, aims to ensure that it meets financial covenants
that define capital structure requirements. Breaches in meeting the financial covenants would permit the bank to immediately call loans or
debentures. There have been no breaches of the financial covenants of any loans or debentures in the current and previous periods.
No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes for managing capital during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
F-68
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Labor and social obligations
a) Variable compensation (bonuses)
The Company recorded bonuses related to variable compensation of employees and management in cost of services and general and
administrative expenses of R$24,248, R$ 25,587 and R$ 9,514 in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
b) Afya Limited share-based compensation plans
b.1) Stock options plan
The stock options plan approved on August 30, 2019, granted to senior executives and other employees of the Company, as a result of the IPO will
govern the issuance of equity incentive awards with respect to Company’s Class A common shares. The fair value of the stock options was
estimated at the grant date using the Binomial pricing model, taking into account the terms and conditions on which the stock options were granted.
The Company accounts for the stock options plan as an equity-settled plan.
On July 29, 2020, the board of directors approved a change in the strike price of the current share-based compensation plan. The strike price is
now measured in Brazilian Reais (where the Company’s operations are located and valuated) adjusted by CDI rate instead of U.S. dollar adjusted
by T-Bond. Furthermore, the first tranche had its vesting period extended from May 2020 to May 2021, including one year lock-up period after the
vesting period. This change was assessed as a modification by the Company and was accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2.
On July 8, 2022, the People and ESG Committee approved a change in the strike price of the current share-based compensation plan. All the
tranches still to be vested had their strike price modified compared to the IPO price in Brazilian Reais (R$71.22), adjusted from the IPO date until
the exercise date using the CDI rate, excluding dividends. The already vested tranches will remain on the previous settled strike price. This change
was assessed as a modification by the Company and accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2.
As result of those modifications, the expense related to the share-based payment of the Company reflects the cost of the original award at grant
date over the vesting period plus the incremental fair value of the repriced options at modification date over the vesting period of the options.
The average incremental fair value, as result of the modification, was R$ 3.84 per stock option. The following table list the inputs to the model used
to determine the incremental fair value of the stock options as result of the modification:
Modified plan
Original plan
Strike price at the measurement date
R$76
R$85 – R$126
Dividend yield (%)
0.0%
0.0%
Expected volatility (%)
48% - 59%
42% - 69%
Risk-free interest rate (%)
13% - 15%
5% - 13%
Expected life of stock options (years)
1 – 5
1 – 5
Share price at the measurement date
R$48
R$80 – R$145
Model used
Binomial
Binomial
Weighted average fair value at the measurement date
R$53.06
R$49.22
F-69
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
On May 18, 2022, July 11, 2022 and September 14, 2022, the Company granted 1,234,919 additional stock options, respectively:
May 2022
July 2022
September 2022
Strike price at the measurement date
R$70
R$52
R$52
Dividend yield (%)
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
Expected volatility (%)
48% - 60%
48% - 59%
48% - 58%
Risk-free interest rate (%)
12% - 13%
13% - 15%
12%
Expected life of stock options (years)
1 – 5
1 – 5
1 – 5
Share price at the measurement date
R$ 55.54
R$ 48.24
R$ 72.59
Model used
Binomial
Binomial
Binomial
Weighted average fair value at the measurement date
R$ 19.13
R$ 17.98
R$ 34.86
The following table illustrates the number and movements in stock options during the period:
Weighted average exercise price (in
Reais)
Number of stock options
2022
2021
2020
Outstanding at January 1
92.33
3,086,728
2,510,983
2,364,214
Granted
53.02
1,234,919
1,170,000
477,220
Exercised
-
-
(442,669)
(56,092)
Forfeited
107.25
(365,749)
(60,000)
(274,359)
Expired
97.80
(226,611)
(91,586)
-
Outstanding at December 31
79.47
3,729,287
3,086,728
2,510,983
Exercisable
97.65
1,133,774
542,061
-
The share-based compensation expense recognized in general and administrative expenses in the statement of income for the year ended
December 31, 2022 was R$ 27,242 (R$ 43,377 and R$32,610 in 2021 and 2020, respectively).
b.2) Restricted Stock Units (RSU) Program
On July 8, 2022, the Company approved the new Restricted Stock Units (RSU) program for employees. The participant's right to effectively receive
ownership of the restricted shares will be conditioned on the participant's continuance as an employee or director in the business group from the
grant date until vesting.
The executives will be entitled to these shares in a proportion of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% each year.
In July 2022 and September 2022, 442,546 and 4,678 RSUs were granted, respectively, to Afya’s executives, with vesting periods from May 2023 to
May 2026. Fair values at grant date were R$48.24 and R$72.59, respectively.
The Company accounts for the RSU plan as an equity-settled plan, except for the portion of labor and social securities obligations.
Total RSU expense recognized in general and administrative expenses in the statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2022 amount
R$4,032. Social charges amount R$2,167 on social obligations liabilities as of December 31, 2022.
F-70
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Equity
a) Share capital
As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s share capital was R$ 17 (R$ 17 as of December 31, 2021) represented by 93,722,831 shares
comprised by 47,920,068 class A common shares and 45,802,763 class B common shares (93,722,831 shares comprised by 47,920,068 class A
common shares and 45,802,763 class B common shares as of December 31, 2020). As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s
authorized capital was US$ 50 thousand.
b) Dividends
In the year ended December 31, 2022 CCSI and IESVAP approved the payment of dividends of R$66,828, which R$47,092 was distributed to Afya
and R$19,736 to non-controlling shareholders.
c) Buy-back program
On December 23, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a share buy-back program. Afya may repurchase up to
1,015,844 of its outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, over a period beginning on December
24, 2020 continuing until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2021, depending upon market conditions. The Company
completed the acquisition of the approved shares repurchase under this buy-back program.
On October 27, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a new share repurchase program. Afya may repurchase up to 1,383,108 of its
outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, beginning on October 28, 2021, until the earlier of the
completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2022, depending upon market conditions. The Company completed the acquisition of the approved
shares repurchase under this buy-back program.
On January 27, 2022, the Company’s board of directors approved a new share repurchase program. Afya may repurchase up to 1,874,457 of its
outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, beginning on January 27, 2022, until the earlier of the
completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2022, depending upon market conditions. The Company completed the acquisition of the approved
shares repurchase under this buy-back program.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company’s cash outflow was R$152,317 (R$213,722 during the year ended on December 31,
2021).
The following table illustrates the number and movements in treasury shares during the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (no treasury
shares were repurchased in 2020):
Number of shares
Average price (in Brazilian Reais)
Outstanding at January 1, 2021
-
-
Repurchased
2,142,051
119.99
Transferred from exercise of stock options
(442,669)
124.26
Transferred from shares contribution
(44,455)
111.94
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
1,654,927
92.23
Repurchased
2,131,358
71.46
Outstanding at December 31, 2022
3,786,285
80.54
F-71
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Earnings per share (EPS)
Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding during the period plus the weighted average number of shares that would be issued on conversion of all potential shares with dilutive
effects.
Diluted earnings per share are computed including stock options granted to key management using the treasury shares method when the effect is
dilutive. The Company has the stock option and restricted share unit plans in the category of potentially dilutive shares.
Softbank’s series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are antidilutive as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and are not included on diluted
earnings per share.
The following table reflects the net income and share data used in the basic and diluted EPS calculations:
2022
2021
2020
Numerator
Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent
373,569
223,326
292,075
Denominator
Weighted average number of outstanding shares
90,335,037
93,291,480
92,683,848
Effects of dilution from stock options and restricted share units
329,085
811,818
951,920
Weighted average number of outstanding shares adjusted for the effect of dilution
90,664,122
94,103,298
93,635,768
Basic earnings per share (R$)
4.14
2.39
3.15
Diluted earnings per share (R$)
4.12
2.37
3.12
Revenue
2022
2021
2020
Tuition fees
2,827,567
2,124,589
1,388,735
Other
213,040
167,441
99,817
Deductions
Granted discounts
(241,404)
(229,254)
(89,017)
Early payment discounts
(92,234)
(49,879)
(29,299)
Returns
(45,402)
(42,373)
(11,437)
Taxes
(107,004)
(74,232)
(49,629)
PROUNI
(225,506)
(176,921)
(107,979)
Revenue from contracts with customers
2,329,057
1,719,371
1,201,191
Timing of revenue recognition of net revenue from contracts with customers
Tuition, digital content and app subscription fees - Transferred over time
2,273,578
1,640,889
1,128,558
Other - Transferred at a point in time
55,479
78,482
72,633
F-72
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The Company`s revenue from contracts with customers are all in Brazil. The Company is not subject to the payment of the social integration
program tax (Programa de Integração Social, or PIS) and the social contribution on revenues tax (Contribuição para o Financiamento da
Seguridade Social, or COFINS) on the revenue from under graduation degrees under the PROUNI program.
The following table presents statements of income for the Company’s operating segments for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Revenue by segment
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Elimination (inter-
segment transactions)
2022
Types of services or goods
2,037,889
108,806
189,984
(7,622)
2,329,057
Tuition fees
2,023,128
108,648
-
-
2,131,776
Other
14,761
158
189,984
(7,622)
197,281
Timing of revenue recognition
2,037,889
108,806
189,984
(7,622)
2,329,057
Transferred over time
2,024,373
108,806
145,939
(5,540)
2,273,578
Transferred at a point in time
13,516
-
44,045
(2,082)
55,479
Revenue by segment
Undergrad
Continuing
Education
Digital Services
Elimination (inter-
segment transactions)
2021
Types of services or goods
1,498,408
72,983
151,958
(3,978)
1,719,371
Tuition fees
1,486,111
72,983
-
-
1,559,094
Other
12,297
-
151,958
(3,978)
160,277
Timing of revenue recognition
1,498,408
72,983
151,958
(3,978)
1,719,371
Transferred over time
1,486,111
72,983
81,795
-
1,640,889
Transferred at a point in time
12,297
-
70,163
(3,978)
78,482
Revenue by segment
Undergrad
Continuing Education
Digital Services
Elimination (inter-segment
transactions)
2020
Types of services or goods
1,002,461
107,197
93,152
(1,619)
1,201,191
Tuition fees
997,055
107,197
-
-
1,104,252
Other
5,406
-
93,152
(1,619)
96,939
Timing of revenue recognition
1,002,461
107,197
93,152
(1,619)
1,201,191
Transferred over time
997,055
107,197
24,306
-
1,128,558
Transferred at a point in time
5,406
-
68,846
(1,619)
72,633
F-73
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Expenses and costs by nature
2022
2021
2020
Cost of services
(859,552)
(652,300)
(434,654)
General and administrative expenses
(798,153)
(622,615)
(402,855)
Total
(1,657,705)
(1,274,915)
(837,509)
Payroll
(880,664)
(677,564)
(446,473)
Hospital and medical agreements
(66,065)
(37,449)
(37,988)
Depreciation and amortization
(206,220)
(154,220)
(108,744)
Lease expenses
(12,153)
(11,229)
(2,555)
Utilities
(17,682)
(10,643)
(5,892)
Maintenance
(76,475)
(47,141)
(20,746)
Share-based compensation
(31,274)
(43,377)
(32,610)
Tax expenses
(10,518)
(7,997)
(5,326)
Pedagogical services
(48,084)
(47,881)
(24,037)
Sales and marketing
(48,217)
(39,506)
(18,361)
Allowance for doubtful accounts
(42,708)
(47,819)
(32,081)
Travel expenses
(14,003)
(7,542)
(4,550)
Consulting fees
(35,326)
(38,818)
(31,276)
Other
(168,316)
(103,729)
(66,870)
Total
(1,657,705)
(1,274,915)
(837,509)
Finance result
2022
2021
2020
Income from financial investments
67,810
35,773
24,479
Changes in fair value of derivative instruments
-
-
20,739
Interest received
27,197
23,040
11,876
Other
7,035
5,753
5,196
Finance income
102,042
64,566
62,290
Interest expense
(200,081)
(108,437)
(25,543)
Interest expense on lease liabilities
(88,571)
(67,212)
(44,458)
Financial discounts granted
(24,092)
(23,193)
(8,081)
Bank fees
(8,623)
(7,878)
(6,333)
Foreign exchange loss, net
(852)
(17,973)
(4,613)
IOF taxes (taxes on financial transactions)
(178)
(3,306)
(1,661)
Other
(27,496)
(15,797)
(7,580)
Finance expenses
(349,893)
(243,796)
(98,269)
Finance result
(247,851)
(179,230)
(35,979)
F-74
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Income taxes
Income taxes are comprised of taxation over operations in Brazil, related to Corporate Income Tax ("IRPJ") and Social Contribution on Net Profit
("CSLL"). According to Brazilian tax legislation, income taxes and social contribution are assessed and paid by legal entity and not on a
consolidated basis.
Reconciliation of income taxes expense
The following is a reconciliation of income tax expense to profit (loss) for the year, calculated by applying the combined Brazilian statutory rates at
34% for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020:
2022
2021
2020
Income before income taxes
428,433
273,462
335,054
Combined statutory income taxes rate - %
34%
34%
34%
Income taxes at statutory rates
(145,667)
(92,977)
(113,918)
Reconciliation adjustments:
Tax effect on loss from an entity not subject to taxation
(32,859)
(37,794)
(8,474)
PROUNI - Fiscal Incentive (a)
270,062
194,830
120,851
Unrecognized deferred tax assets
(117,377)
(86,233)
(41,319)
Presumed profit income tax regime effect (b)
(1,549)
(7,066)
(2,640)
Permanent adjustments
(12,226)
(6,232)
2,567
Other
3,939
4,293
15,866
Income taxes expense – current
(35,677)
(31,179)
(27,067)
Effective rate
8.33%
11.40%
8.08%
(a)
The Company adhered to PROUNI, established by Law 11,096 / 2005, which is a federal program that exempt companies of paying income taxes and social
contribution.
(b)
Brazilian tax law establishes that companies that generate gross revenues of up to R$ 78,000 in the prior fiscal year may calculate income taxes as a percentage of
gross revenue, using the presumed profit income tax regime. The effect of the presumed profit of certain subsidiaries represents the difference between the taxation
based on this method and the amount that would be due based on the statutory rate applied to the taxable profit of the subsidiaries.
Deferred income taxes
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had accumulated unrecognized deferred income tax assets on temporary differences and tax losses in the
amount of R$778,080 (tax-basis) (R$ 432,226 (tax-basis) as of December 31, 2021) which does not have any tax planning opportunities available
that could support the recognition of these temporary differences as deferred tax assets. Accordingly, the Company did not recognize deferred tax
assets.
F-75
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
Insurance contracts and contingencies
a) Insurance contracts
The Company and its subsidiaries have a risk management program with the purpose of delimiting the risks, seeking in the market coverage
compatible with its size and operations.
b) Legal proceedings and contingencies
The provisions related to labor, civil and taxes proceedings whose likelihood of loss is assessed as probable are as follows:
Labor
Civil
Taxes (i)
Total
Balances as of December 31, 2019
2,501
2,768
-
5,269
Business combinations
2,741
2,348
27,487
32,576
Additions
562
10,869
7,853
19,284
Reversals
(1,285)
(2,705)
-
(3,990)
Balances as of December 31, 2020
4,519
13,280
35,340
53,139
Business combinations
16,597
6,017
57,638
80,252
Additions *
5,418
5,101
14,225
24,744
Reversals
(1,044)
(1,470)
(7,334)
(9,848)
Balances as of December 31, 2021
25,490
22,928
99,869
148,287
Additions
2,300
7,911
63,698
73,909
Reversals
(5,306)
(6,175)
(14,861)
(26,342)
Balances as of December 31, 2022
22,484
24,664
148,706
195,854
*
The amount of R$ 4,232 is related to tax legal proceedings attributed to the selling shareholders (R$9,940 for the year ended December 31, 2020). The same amount
was recorded as indemnification assets in the statement of financial position in other assets.
(i)
During the year ended December 31, 2022, R$48,333 of tax contingencies were added with a corresponding increase of goodwill (Unigranrio as disclosed in note 12)
and indemnification assets.
The principal labor proceedings to which we are a party were filed by former employees or service providers seeking enforcement of labor rights
allegedly not provided by us. The judicial proceedings relate to employment bonds (judicial proceedings filed by former service providers), overtime,
premiums for hazardous workplace conditions, statutory severance, fines for severance payment delays, and compensation for workplace-related
accidents.
The civil claims to which we are a party generally relate to consumer claims, including those related to student complaints.
The tax claims to which the Company is party are mostly tax foreclosures filed by Brazilian federal and municipal tax authorities.
There are other civil, labor, taxes and social security proceedings assessed by Management and its legal counsels as possible risk of loss, for
which no provisions are recognized, as follows:
2022
2021
Labor
13,914
5,098
Civil
59,603
56,501
Taxes and social security
4,931
4,459
Total
78,448
66,058
F-76
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
The Company has judicial deposits, related to taxes, civil and labor proceedings, recorded in other assets (non-current) in the amount of R$12,693
as of December 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021: R$ 18,825).
Under the terms of the Share Purchase and Sale Agreements ("Agreements") between the Company and the selling shareholders of certain
subsidiaries acquired, the Company assesses that the selling shareholders are exclusively responsible for any provisions (including labor, tax and
civil), which are or will be the subject of a claim by any third party, arising from the act or fact occurred, by action or omission, prior to or on the
closing dates of the acquisitions.
Accordingly, and considering that the provisions for legal proceedings recorded by the Company that result from causes arising from events
occurring prior to the closing dates of the acquisitions, any liability for the amounts to be disbursed, in case of their effective materialization in loss,
belongs exclusively to the selling shareholders. In this context, the Agreements state that the Company and its subsidiaries are indemnified and
therefore exempt from any liability related to said contingent liabilities and, therefore, the provision amounts related to such contingencies are
presented in the non-current liabilities and the correspondent amount of R$145,300 (December 31, 2021: R$ 135,355) is presented in non-current
other assets.
Non-cash transactions
During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Company carried out non-cash transactions which are not reflected in the
statement of cash flows. The main non-cash transactions are as follows:
2022
2021
2020
Issuance of shares for acquisition of Pebmed
-
-
17,531
Issuance of shares for acquisition of iClinic
-
71,500
-
Issuance of shares for acquisition of Cliquefarma
-
3,000
-
Issuance of shares for acquisition of RXPRO
-
5,112
-
Provision for legal proceedings with corresponding indemnification assets
48,333
4,232
9,940
Additions and remeasurements of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities
100,873
158,651
98,904
Subsequent events
Acquisition of UNIT Alagoas and FITS Jaboatão dos Guararapes
On January 2, 2023, Afya Brazil announced the closing of the acquisition of 100% of the total share capital of Sociedade Educacional e Cultural
Sergipe DelRey Ltda. ("DelRey”), which encompasses the operations of Centro Universitário Tiradentes Alagoas ("UNIT Alagoas”) and Faculdade
Tiradentes Jaboatão dos Guararapes ("FITS Jaboatão dos Guararapes”). The transaction does not enclose the "UNIT” and "FITS” brands, which
will be licensed for Afya during the first year of operation.
The aggregate purchase price was R$825,000 before the deduction of Net Debt. It will be paid as follows: R$575,000 in cash on the transaction
closing date and R$250,000 in three annual installments, respectively, of R$150,000, R$50,000, and R$50,000, adjusted by the Brazilian interest
rate (SELIC).
F-77
Afya Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Expressed in thousands of Brazilian reais, unless otherwise stated
There is a contingent payment related to 84 additional seats subject to approval. If the Ministry of Education approves those seats until December
31, 2024, it will result in a potential additional payment of R$1,250 per seat in UNIT Alagoas. The additional payment will be adjusted by the Brazilian
inflation rate (IPCA) between the closing date and the date of its effective payment.
The acquisition date fair value of each major class of consideration, including the allocation of the purchase price has not been completed by the
Company as of the issuance date of these financial statements. Transaction costs to date amounted to R$11,860. Any goodwill generated in the
transaction is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
***
F-78
Exhibit 2.1
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The following is a description of our outstanding securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act as required pursuant to the relevant Items under Form 20-F. As of
December 31, 2022, Afya Limited (“we,” “us,” and “our”) had the following series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common shares, par value US$0.00005 per share
AFYA
Nasdaq Global Select Market
We were incorporated on March 22, 2019 as a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability duly registered with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies. Our
corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have the authority to carry out any object not prohibited by law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the
Cayman Islands, or the Companies Act.
Our affairs are governed principally by (i) our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association; (ii) the Companies Act; and (iii) the common law of the
Cayman Islands. As provided in our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, subject to Cayman Islands law, we have full capacity to carry on or
undertake any business or activity, do any act or enter into any transaction, and, for such purposes, full rights, powers and privileges. Our registered office is c/o Maples
Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
CLASS A COMMON SHARES
Item 9. General
9.A.3 Preemptive rights
See “—Item 10.B Memorandum and articles of association—Preemptive or Similar Rights” below.
9.A.5 Type and class of securities
As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s issued and outstanding share capital was R$17,000 (R$17,000 as of December 31, 2021) represented by 93,722,831 shares comprised
by 47,920,068 Class A common shares and 45,802,763 Class B common shares (93,722,831 shares comprised by 47,920,068 Class A common shares and 45,802,763 Class B common
shares as of December 31, 2021). In addition, as of December 31, 2022, 150,000 Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares were outstanding, representing approximately 6.6% of
our outstanding common shares, including the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares on an as-converted basis.
As of December 31, 2022, our total authorized share capital was US$50,000, divided into 1,000,000,000 shares par value US$0.00005 each, of which: (i) 500,000,000 shares are
designated as Class A common shares; (ii) 250,000,000 shares are designated as Class B common shares; and (iii) 250,000,000 shares of such class or classes (howsoever
designated) and having the rights as the Board may determine.
The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association currently authorize two classes of common shares: Class A common shares, which are entitled to one
vote per share, and Class B common shares, which are entitled to 10 votes per share and to maintain a proportional ownership interest in the event that additional Class A common
shares are issued. Any holder of Class B common shares may convert his or her shares at any time into Class A common shares on a share-for-share basis. The rights of the two
classes of common shares are otherwise identical, except as described in our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. The implementation of this dual
class equity structure was required by the Esteves Family and Crescera, our principal shareholders in the year of 2019, as a condition of undertaking the initial public offering of our
common shares. See “—Anti-Takeover Provisions in Our Articles of Association—Two Classes of Common Shares.”
1
Item 9.A.6. Limitations or qualifications
Not applicable.
Item 9.A.7. Other rights
Not applicable.
Item 10.B Memorandum and articles of association
The following information describes our Class A common shares and provisions set forth by our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the
Companies Act; and the common law of the Cayman Islands. This description is only a summary. You should read and refer to our Amended and Restated Memorandum and
Articles of Association included as Exhibit 1.4 to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Description of Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
History of Share Capital
On July 19, 2019, our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No 333-232309), as amended, was declared effective by the SEC for to our initial public offering of our Class A
common shares, pursuant to which we sold a total of 15,805,841 Class A common shares, par value $0.00005 per share, at a public offering price of US$19.00 per share.
On February 6, 2020, our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No 333-236246), as amended, was declared effective by the SEC for a public offering of our Class A common
shares, pursuant to which we sold a total of 3,260,480 Class A common shares, par value $0.00005 per share, at a public offering price of US$27.50 per share.
On April 26, 2021, we announced that the SoftBank Latin America Fund, or SoftBank, agreed to purchase R$822 million, equivalent to US$150 million, of Afya’s Series A
perpetual convertible preferred shares, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Crescera Educacional II Fundo de Investimento em Participações Multiestratégia and
the Esteves Family agreed to sell 2,270,208 Class A common shares to SoftBank. In connection with such sale, at the time, Paulo Passoni from SoftBank was appointed as a board
member of Afya, being replaced by Maria Tereza Azevedo in 2022. The key terms of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, as set forth under the relevant certificate of
designations, are: (i) 6.5% per annum cumulative dividend payable quarterly and in Brazilian reais (payable in U.S. dollars in Brazilian reais equivalent); (ii) SoftBank shall have the
right at any time, to convert its Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares into 5,917,888 common shares, at an initial conversion price established at US$25.35; (iii) SoftBank
shall have the right to redeem any time after the 5th year anniversary at 105% premium; and (iv) Afya will have the right to force conversion after the 3rd year anniversary if forced
conversion trigger conditions are satisfied. The Series A perpetual convertible preferred share will be entitled to the same voting rights as the common shares only when converted
into common shares. For further information, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness—Series A Perpetual
Convertible Shares” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and note 13.2.1(d) to our audited consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, SoftBank and its affiliates would beneficially own approximately
6.6% of the total shares of the Company (on an as-converted basis for the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares).
As of December 31, 2022, Afya had 3,786,285 common shares in treasury.
General
Our shareholders adopted our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, effective as of May 4, 2022, included as Exhibit 1.4 to our annual report on
Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The following summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by Afya Limited’s Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association. This is not a summary of all the significant provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, of the Companies Act
or of the common law of the Cayman Islands and does not purport to be complete. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in our annual
report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
2
Corporate Purposes
Our corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have the authority to carry out any object not prohibited by law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act.
Issuance of Shares
Except as expressly provided in our Articles of Association, our board of directors has general and unconditional authority to allot, grant options over, offer or otherwise deal
with or dispose of any unissued shares in the company’s capital without the approval of our shareholders (whether forming part of the original or any increased share capital),
either at a premium or at par, with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to
such persons, on such terms and conditions, and at such times as the directors may decide, but so that no share shall be issued at a discount, except in accordance with the
provisions of the Companies Act. In accordance with its Articles of Association, Afya shall not issue bearer shares.
Our Articles of Association provide that at any time that there are Class A common shares in issue, additional Class B common shares may only be issued pursuant to (i) a
share split, subdivision of shares or similar transaction or where a dividend or other distribution is paid by the issue of shares or rights to acquire shares or following capitalization
of profits, (ii) a merger, consolidation, or other business combination, or (iii) an issuance of shares including Class A common shares or any other class of share designated as a
common share pursuant to the Articles of Association, whereby each holder of the Class B common shares is entitled to purchase a number of Class B common shares that would
allow it to maintain its proportional ownership interests in Afya (following an offer by Afya to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder, upon the same
economic terms and at the same price, such number of Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in Afya pursuant to
our Articles of Association). In light of: (a) the above provisions; (b) the fact that future transfers by holders of Class B common shares will generally result in those shares
converting to Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions as provided in the Articles of Association; and (c) the ten-to-one voting ratio between our Class B common
shares and Class A common shares, means that holders of our Class B common shares will in many situations continue to maintain control of all matters requiring shareholder
approval. This concentration of ownership and voting power will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For more information see
“—Preemptive or Similar Rights.”
Our Articles of Association also provide that the issuance of non-voting common shares requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the then-outstanding Class A common
shares and the prior written consent of a Bertelsmann Director and Esteves Family Director as set out below in “—Proceedings of the Board of Directors.”
Fiscal Year
Our fiscal year begins on January 1 of each year and ends on December 31 of the same year.
Voting Rights
The holders of the Class A common shares and Class B common shares have identical rights, except that (i) the holder of Class B common shares is entitled to 10 votes per
share, whereas holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share, (ii) Class B common shares have certain conversion rights and (iii) the holders of Class B
common shares are entitled to maintain their proportional ownership interest in the event that common shares and/or preferred shares are proposed to be issued. For more
information see below “—Preemptive or Similar Rights” and “—Conversion.” The holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares vote together as a single class
on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of shareholders, except as provided below and as otherwise required by law.
Our Articles of Association provide as follows regarding the respective rights of holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares:
3
(i) Class consents from the holders of Class A common shares or Class B common shares, as applicable, shall be required for any variation to the rights attached to their
respective class of shares, however, the directors may treat any two or more classes of shares as forming one class if they consider that all such classes would be affected in the
same way by the proposal;
(ii) the rights conferred on holders of Class A common shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Class B common shares and vice versa;
and
(iii) the rights attaching to the Class A common shares and the Class B common shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking
pari passu therewith, the redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by the Company, the cancellation of authorised but unissued shares of that class or the creation or
issue of shares with preferred or other rights, including, without limitation, shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
As set forth in the Articles of Association, the holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares, respectively, do not have the right to vote separately if the
number of authorized shares of such class is increased or decreased. Rather, the number of authorized Class A common shares and Class B common shares may be increased or
decreased (but not below the number of shares of such class then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and
outstanding Class A common shares and Class B common shares, voting together in a general meeting.
Preemptive or Similar Rights
The Class A common shares and Class B common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights upon transfer and are not subject to conversion (except as described below
under “—Conversion”), redemption or sinking fund provisions.
The Class B common shares are entitled to maintain a proportional ownership interest in the event that additional common and/or preferred shares are issued. As such, if Afya
issues common and/or preferred shares, it must first make an offer to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder on the same economic terms such number of
Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in Afya. This right to maintain a proportional ownership interest may be
waived by all of the holders of Class B common shares, such waiver to remain effective until the date specified therein or 12 months from the date of the waiver.
Conversion
The outstanding Class B common shares are convertible at any time as follows: (i) at the option of the holder, a Class B common share may be converted at any time into one
Class A common share or (ii) upon the election of the holders of all the then issued and outstanding Class B common shares, all outstanding Class B common shares may be
converted into a like number of Class A common shares. In addition, each Class B common share will convert automatically into one Class A common share upon any transfer,
whether or not for value, except for certain transfers described in the Articles of Association, including transfers to holders of Class B common shares, to affiliates, to and between
the Esteves Family, Bertelsmann, their family members and their respective children, heirs and successors, trusts solely for the benefit of the shareholder or their affiliates, and to
partnerships, corporations and other entities exclusively owned or controlled by the Class B shareholder or their affiliates and certain transfers to organizations that are exempt
from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Furthermore, each Class B common share will convert automatically into one Class A
common share and no Class B common shares will be issued thereafter if, at any time, the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is less than 10% of
the total number of shares outstanding. To the extent that Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family cease to be a Class B common shareholder, the rights nominally vested to each shall
vest in their permitted transferee within the meaning of our Articles of Association.
No class of our common shares may be subdivided or combined unless the other class of common shares is concurrently subdivided or combined in the same proportion and
in the same manner.
4
Equal Status
Except as expressly provided in our Articles of Association, Class A common shares and Class B common shares have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share
ratably and are identical in all respects as to all matters.
In the event of any merger, consolidation, scheme, arrangement or other business combination requiring the approval of our shareholders entitled to vote thereon (whether or
not Afya is the surviving entity), the holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration as the holders
of Class B common shares, and the holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration on a
per share basis as the holders of Class B common shares. In the event of any (i) tender or exchange offer to acquire any Class A common shares or Class B common shares by any
third-party pursuant to an agreement to which Afya is a party, or (ii) any tender or exchange offer by Afya to acquire any Class A common shares or Class B common shares, the
holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration as the holders of Class B common shares, and the
holders of Class A common shares shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of
Class B common shares.
Record Dates
For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at any general meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to
receive dividend or other distribution payments, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other purpose, Our board of directors may set a record date which shall
not exceed 40 clear days prior to the date where the determination will be made.
General Meetings of Shareholders
As a condition of admission to a shareholders’ meeting, a shareholder must be duly registered as a shareholder of Afya at the applicable record date for that meeting and, in
order to vote, all calls or installments then payable by such shareholder to Afya in respect of the shares that such shareholder holds must have been paid.
Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting then attached to any shares, at any general meeting every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the
case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative not being himself or herself a shareholder entitled to vote) shall have one vote per Class A common
share and 10 votes per Class B common share.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, Afya is not obliged by the Companies Act to call annual general meetings; however, the Articles of Association provide that in each
year the company will hold an annual general meeting of shareholders, at a time determined by the board of directors. For the annual general meeting of shareholders the agenda
will include, among other things, the presentation of the annual accounts and the report of the directors (if any). In addition, the agenda for an annual general meeting of
shareholders will only include such items as have been included therein by the board of directors.
Also, Afya may, but is not required to (unless required by the laws of the Cayman Islands), hold other extraordinary general meetings during the year. General meetings of
shareholders are generally expected to take place in Nova Lima, Brazil, but may be held elsewhere if the directors so decide.
The Companies Act provides shareholders a limited right to request a general meeting and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general
meeting in default of a company’s Articles of Association. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s Articles of Association. Our Articles of Association provide
that upon the requisition of one or more shareholders representing not less than one-third of the voting rights entitled to vote at general meetings, the board will convene an
extraordinary general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. The Articles of Association provide no other right to put any proposals before
annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings.
Subject to regulatory requirements, the annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meetings must be called by not less than 10 clear calendar days’ notice prior to
the relevant shareholders meeting and convened by a notice discussed below. Alternatively, upon the prior consent of all holders entitled to receive notice, with regards to the
annual general meeting, and a majority in number of the members (which shall include Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family) together holding at least 95% in par value of the shares
entitled to attend and vote, with regards to an extraordinary general meeting, that meeting may be convened by a shorter notice and in a manner deemed appropriate by those
holders.
5
Afya will give notice of each general meeting of shareholders by publication on its website and in any other manner that it may be required to follow in order to comply with
Cayman Islands law, Nasdaq and SEC requirements. The holders of registered shares may be given notice of a shareholders’ meeting by means of letters sent to the addresses of
those shareholders as registered in our shareholders’ register, or, subject to certain statutory requirements, by electronic means.
Holders whose shares are registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, which we expect will be the case for all holders of Class A common shares, will not be a
shareholder or member of the company and must rely on the procedures of DTC regarding notice of shareholders’ meetings and the exercise of rights of a holder of the Class A
common shares.
A quorum for a general meeting consists of any one or more persons holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third of the aggregate voting power of all shares in
issue and entitled to vote upon the business to be transacted.
A resolution put to a vote at a general meeting shall be decided on a poll. An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders at a general meeting requires the affirmative
vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the shareholders entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy and voting at the meeting. A special resolution
requires the affirmative vote on a poll of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting.
Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our Company, as permitted by the
Companies Act and our Articles of Association.
Pursuant to our Articles of Association, general meetings of shareholders are to be chaired by the co-chairman of our board of directors appointed by Bertelsmann or in his
absence, the co-chairman of the board of directors appointed by the Esteves Family. If both such co-chairmen are absent, the directors present at the meeting shall appoint one of
them to be chairman of the general meeting. If neither the chairmen nor another director is present at the general meeting within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding the
meeting, the shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote may elect any one of the shareholders to be chairman. The order of business at each meeting shall be
determined by the chairman of the meeting and he or she shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things
as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety,
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Company, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement
thereof, and the opening and closing of the polls. The chairman shall not have the right to vote in his capacity as chairman and shall not have a casting vote.
Liquidation Rights
If Afya is voluntarily wound up, the liquidator, after taking into account and giving effect to the rights of preferred and secured creditors and to any agreement between Afya
and any creditors that the claims of such creditors shall be subordinated or otherwise deferred to the claims of any other creditors and to any contractual rights of set-off or netting
of claims between Afya and any person or persons (including without limitation any bilateral or any multi-lateral set-off or netting arrangements between the company and any
person or persons) and subject to any agreement between Afya and any person or persons to waive or limit the same, shall apply our property in satisfaction of its liabilities pari
passu and subject thereto shall distribute the property amongst the shareholders according to their rights and interests in Afya.
Special Matters
Afya may not without the prior written consent of (i) Bertelsmann for so long as it holds Class B common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold and (ii) the Esteves
Family for so long as it holds Class B common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold: change the number of directors; amend its Memorandum and Articles of Association;
vary the rights attaching to shares; approve the winding-up, liquidation or dissolution of Afya; or take certain actions in respect of its share capital as set out in the Articles of
Association; register as an exempted limited duration company; or approve the transfer by way of continuation of Afya to a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands.
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Anti-Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering
Our Articles of Association contain stringent anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and certain other related measures applicable to us, our officers and directors, and its
service providers. The Articles of Association provide that if one of our shareholders is found to have been involved in an act of corruption, money laundering or other related
irregular act, the directors shall convene a meeting to consider the circumstances of such incident, and establish a course of action to be taken against such shareholder. The
actions range from (i) suspending such shareholder from his/her duties as a director, officer and/or employee (if applicable) of the Company; (ii) terminating such duties;
(iii) directing such shareholder to transfer the entirety of his/her shareholding in the Company to his/her children and/or heirs; or (iv) if such transfer is not possible, resolve that
the shares in the Company owned by such shareholder be mandatorily redeemed by us. Further, our Articles of Association provide that we shall not engage the services of any
provider that has been found to violate applicable anti-corruption laws, and further provide that we and our shareholders shall not violate applicable anti-corruption laws.
Changes to Capital
Subject to the restrictions contained in the Articles of Association and summarized above in “—Special Matters,” Afya may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
·
increase its share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
·
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares;
·
convert all or any of its paid-up shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;
·
subdivide its existing shares or any of them into shares of a smaller amount, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if
any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or
·
cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital
by the amount of the shares so canceled.
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by the Company for an order confirming such
reduction, reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.
In addition, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our Articles of Association, Afya may:
·
issue shares on terms that they are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed;
·
purchase its own shares (including any redeemable shares); and
·
make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares in any manner authorized by the Companies Act, including out of its own capital.
Transfer of Shares
Subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in the Articles of Association, any shareholder of Afya may transfer all or any of his or her common shares by an instrument of
transfer in the usual or common form or in the form prescribed by the Nasdaq or any other form approved by the Company’s board of directors.
7
The Class A common shares are traded on the Nasdaq in book-entry form and may be transferred in accordance with our Articles of Association and Nasdaq’s rules and
regulations.
However, our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any common share which is either not fully paid up to a person of whom it
does not approve or is issued under any share incentive scheme for employees which contains a transfer restriction that is still applicable to such common share. The board of
directors may also decline to register any transfer of any common share unless:
·
the instrument of transfer is lodged with Afya, accompanied by the certificate (if any) for the common shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of
directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
·
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
·
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
·
the common shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of Afya; and
·
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.
If the directors refuse to register a transfer they are required, within 15 business days after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to the transferee
notice of such refusal.
Share Repurchases
The Companies Act and the Articles of Association permit Afya to purchase its own shares, subject to certain restrictions. The board of directors may only exercise this
power on behalf of Afya, and subject to the Companies Act, the Articles of Association and to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the SEC, the Nasdaq, or
by any recognized stock exchange on which our securities are listed. Set forth below is a description of our share repurchase programs.
1st Share Repurchase Program. Our Board of Directors approved a share buyback program on December 23, 2020. Under the share buyback program, Afya may repurchase up
to 1,015,844 of its outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions, over a period beginning on
December 24, 2020 continuing until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2021, depending upon market conditions. We repurchased the shares to execute
the stock option program for the executives of the company and utilized our existing funds to fund repurchases made under this program. Our Board of Directors also authorized
management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as our agent to purchase the shares on our behalf in the open market. It is our intention such purchases benefit from the safe harbor
provided by Rule 10b-18 (“Rule 10b-18”) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we shall not take, nor permit any person or entity under its control to take,
any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rule 10b-18 for purchases of our common shares under the program. The share buyback program was completed on October 21,
2021, upon the completion of the purchase of the full amount of Class A common shares permitted under the program.
2nd Share Repurchase Program. After the completion of our first share repurchase program on October 21, 2021 that resulted in the purchase of 1,015,844 Class A common
shares, our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program on October 27, 2021, or the second share repurchase program. Under the second share repurchase
program, Afya may repurchase up to 1,383,108 of its outstanding Class A common shares in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated
transactions, beginning on October 28, 2021 until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2022, depending upon market conditions. We repurchased the
shares to execute the stock option program for the executives of the company and utilized our existing funds to fund repurchases made under this program. The Board of Directors
of Afya also authorized management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as its agent to purchase the shares on its behalf in the open market. It is Afya’s intention that such purchases
benefit from the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Afya shall not take, nor permit any person or entity under its
control to take, any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rule 10b-18 for purchases under the program. The second share repurchase program was completed on January
14, 2022, upon the purchase of the full amount of Class A common shares permitted under the second share repurchase program.
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3rd Share Repurchase Program. After the completion of our second share repurchase program, which resulted in the purchase of 1,383,108 Class A common shares, our Board
of Directors approved a new share repurchase program on January 27, 2022, or the third share repurchase program. Under the third share repurchase program, Afya may repurchase
up to 1,874,457 of its outstanding Class A common shares which represents 4% of its free float, in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated
transactions, beginning on January 27, 2022, until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2022, depending upon market conditions. We repurchased the
shares for use in our stock option program, as consideration in business combination transactions and for general corporate purposes and utilized our existing funds and
dividends received from Afya Brazil to fund repurchases made under this program. The Board of Directors of Afya also authorized management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as
its agent to purchase the shares on its behalf in the open market. It is Afya’s intention that such purchases benefit from the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 promulgated by
the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Afya shall not take, nor permit any person or entity under its control to take, any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rule
10b-18 for purchases under the program. The third share repurchase program was completed on May 4, 2022, upon the purchase of the full amount of Class A common shares
permitted under the third share repurchase program.
4th Share Repurchase Program. After the completion of our third share repurchase program, which resulted in the purchase of 1,874,457 Class A common shares, our board of
directors has approved a new share repurchase program on March 23, 2023, or the fourth share repurchase program. Under the fourth share repurchase program, Afya may
repurchase up to 2,000,000 of its outstanding Class A common shares, in the open market, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions, beginning on
April 3, 2023 until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase or December 31, 2024, depending upon market conditions.
The share repurchases may be made from time to time through open market transactions and are subject to market and business conditions, levels of available liquidity, cash
requirements for other purposes, regulatory, and other relevant factors. Afya intends to repurchase the shares for use in its stock option and restricted shares programs, as
consideration in future business combination transactions and for general corporate purposes. Afya expects to utilize its existing funds and future dividends to be received from
Afya Brazil and/or strike price funds to be received in connection with any option exercises under its stock option program, to fund repurchases made under this program. Afya’s
Board of Directors will review the share repurchase program periodically and may authorize adjustments to its terms and size or suspend or discontinue the program.
The Board of Directors of Afya also authorized management to appoint BofA Securities, Inc. as its agent to purchase the shares on its behalf in the open market. It is Afya’s
intention that such purchases benefit from the safe harbors provided by Rules 10b-18 and 10b5-1 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Afya shall not
take, nor permit any person or entity under its control to take, any action that could jeopardize the availability of Rules 10b-18 or 10b5-1 for purchases under the program.
Dividends and Capitalization of Profits
We have not adopted a dividend policy with respect to payments of any future dividends by Afya. Subject to the Companies Act, our shareholders may, by resolution passed
by a simple majority of the voting rights entitled to vote at a general meeting, declare dividends (including interim dividends) to be paid to shareholders but no dividend shall be
declared in excess of the amount recommended by the board of directors. The board of directors may also declare dividends. Dividends may be declared and paid out of funds
lawfully available to Afya. Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to shares and the Articles of Association of Afya, all dividends shall be paid in proportion to the
number of Class A common shares or Class B common shares a shareholder holds at the date the dividend is declared (or such other date as may be set as a record date); but, (i) if
any share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that share shall rank for dividend accordingly, and (ii) where we have shares in issue
which are not fully paid up (as to par value) we may pay dividends in proportion to the amounts paid up on each share.
The holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares shall be entitled to share equally in any dividends that may be declared in respect of our common shares
from time to time. In the event that a dividend is paid in the form of Class A common shares or Class B common shares, or rights to acquire Class A common shares or Class B
common shares, (i) the holders of Class A common shares shall receive Class A common shares, or rights to acquire Class A common shares, as the case may be; and (ii) the
holders of Class B common shares shall receive Class B common shares, or rights to acquire Class B common shares, as the case may be.
9
Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares rank senior to our common with respect to dividend rights and rights on the distribution of assets on any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company. The holders of Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are entitled to a cumulative
dividend at the rate of 6.5% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. Dividends are payable in kind through the issuance of additional Series A perpetual convertible preferred
shares, in cash, or in any combination of both, at our discretion. The holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares are also entitled to participate in dividends
declared or paid on our common stock on an as-converted basis.
Appointment, Disqualification and Removal of Directors
Afya is managed by its board of directors. The Articles of Association provide that, unless otherwise determined by a special resolution of shareholders, the board of
directors will be composed of four to 14 directors, with the number being determined by a majority of the directors then in office. There are no provisions relating to retirement of
directors upon reaching any age limit. The Articles of Association also provide that, while our shares are admitted to trading on Nasdaq, the board of directors must always comply
with the residency and citizenship requirements of the U.S. securities laws applicable to foreign private issuers. Bertelsmann for so long as it holds Class B common shares in
excess of the Ownership Threshold may appoint up to seven directors at its discretion (and is entitled at any time to remove substitute or replace such directors) (“Bertelsmann
Directors”), and the Esteves Family for so long as it holds Class B common shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold may appoint up to two directors at its discretion (and is
entitled at any time to remove substitute or replace such directors) (“Esteves Family Directors”), in addition for so long as both hold Class B common shares in excess of the
Ownership Threshold, they may appoint a further director (the “Joint Director”) and are entitled at any time to remove, substitute or replace the Joint Director (provided that if only
one of Bertelsmann and the Esteves Family holds Class B Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold, then only Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family, as applicable, shall
have such right). The Board of Directors shall have one (1) co-chairman appointed by Bertelsmann, for so long as it holds Class B Common Shares in excess of the Ownership
Threshold and one (1) co-chairman appointed by the Esteves Family, for so long as it holds Class B Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Threshold, thereafter, the chairman
of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by a majority of the Directors then in office.
Subject to the foregoing, the Articles of Association provide that directors shall be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders, which requires the affirmative vote
of a simple majority of the votes cast on the resolution by the shareholders entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Each director shall be appointed
and elected for a two-year term or until his or her death, resignation or removal, and is eligible for re-election.
For the names of our directors, see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management—Board of Directors.”
Any vacancies on the board of directors that arise other than in respect of the Bertelsmann and/or Esteves Family director appointments set out above or upon the removal of
a director by resolution passed at a general meeting can be filled by the remaining directors (notwithstanding that they may constitute less than a quorum). Any such appointment
shall be as an interim director to fill such vacancy until the next annual general meeting of shareholders.
Subject to the foregoing, additions to the existing board (within the limits set pursuant to the Articles of Association) may be made by ordinary resolution of the shareholders.
Our board of directors has an audit committee in place. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management—Audit Committee.”
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Grounds for Removing a Director
A director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution, save that each Bertelsmann Director may only be removed by Bertelsmann at its discretion and each
Esteves Family Director may only be removed by the Esteves Family at its discretion.
The notice of general meeting must contain a statement of the intention to remove the director and must be served on the director not less than 10 calendar days before the
meeting. The director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal.
The office of a director will be vacated automatically if he or she (i) becomes prohibited by law from being a director, (ii) becomes bankrupt or makes an arrangement or
composition with his creditors, (iii) dies or is in the opinion of all his co-directors, incapable by reason of mental disorder of discharging his duties as director, (iv) resigns his office
by notice to us or (v) has for more than six months been absent without permission of the directors from meetings of the board of directors held during that period, and the
remaining directors resolve that his or her office be vacated. Further, the Directors may remove a Director as set out above in “—Anti-Corruption.”
Proceedings of the Board of Directors
The Articles of Association provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by the board of directors, save that Afya may not without (i) the consent of a
Bertelsmann Director while there is a Bertelsmann Director and (ii) the consent of an Esteves Family Director while there is an Esteves Family Director: create new classes of shares,
issue new shares, options, warrants or convertible securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for purchase or receive any class of shares
or securities in the capital of Afya; repurchase or redeem any shares; execute and/or terminate any shareholders’ agreement, quotaholders’ agreement, or any other agreements
related to our interest in any subsidiary; approve our financial statements; effect any follow-on offerings of Afya; approve the listing and/or the delisting of our securities with any
designated stock exchange; conduct, negotiate, terminate and/or amend any business, agreement, or transaction between Afya and any related party valued in excess of R$10.0
million, provided that, (A) if the Related Party is the Esteves Family (or an Affiliate thereof), then the consent of the Esteves Family Director shall not be required and (B) if the
Related Party is Bertelsmann (or an Affiliate thereof), then the consent of the Bertelsmann Director shall not be required; approve any sale or encumbrance, for the benefit of a
person of shares issued by any subsidiary, or the admission of any new partner or shareholder in such subsidiaries; carry out any investments outside the scope of the core
business of Afya (as set out in the Articles of Association); incorporate any entity; appoint or terminate the engagement of any auditor that is not an Authorized Auditor as set
out in the Articles of Association; provide any guarantee in respect of any person or related person of any of our shareholders, director and/or officers inter alia; or take actions in
connection with the Company’s Anti-Corruption measures, provided that if the Anti-Corruption measures relate to either Bertelsmann or the Esteves Family, then the consent of
the Esteves Family Director or the Bertelsmann Director respectively shall not be required.
The quorum necessary for the board meeting shall be a simple majority of the directors then in office (subject to there being a minimum of two directors present), and business
at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, neither the chairmen of the board nor the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting
vote.
Subject to the foregoing and the provisions of the Articles of Association, the board of directors may regulate its proceedings as they determine is appropriate. Board
meetings shall be held bi-monthly and shall take place either in Nova Lima, Brazil, or at such other place as the directors may determine.
Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association, to any directions given by ordinary resolution of the shareholders and the listing rules of the Nasdaq, the board of
directors may from time to time at its discretion exercise all powers of Afya, including, subject to the Companies Act, the power to issue debentures, bonds and other securities of
the company, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third-party.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of Afya shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of the list of shareholders or corporate records of the Company. However,
the board of directors may determine from time to time whether and to what extent our accounting records and books shall be open to inspection by shareholders who are not
members of the board of directors. Notwithstanding the above, the Articles of Association provide shareholders with the right to receive annual financial statements and upon
request agreements executed by the Company and its Related Parties (as defined in the Articles of Association), shareholder agreements to which the Company is a party and
details of any incentive plan. Such right to receive annual financial statements may be satisfied by publishing the same on the company’s website or filing such annual reports as
we are required to file with the SEC.
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Register of Shareholders
The Class A common shares are held through DTC, and DTC or Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, and recorded in the shareholders’ register as the holder of our Class A
common shares.
Under Cayman Islands law, Afya must keep a register of shareholders that includes:
·
the names and addresses of the shareholders, a statement of the shares held by each member and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of
each member;
·
whether voting rights attach to the shares in issue;
·
the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
·
the date on which any person ceased to be a member.
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of shareholders of Afya is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e., the register of shareholders will raise a presumption
of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a shareholder registered in the register of shareholders is deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have prima
facie legal title to the shares as set against his or her name in the register of shareholders.
However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects
the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers
that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. If an application for an order for rectification of the register of members were made in respect of our ordinary
shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.
Exempted Company
Afya is an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted
companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted
company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
·
an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
·
an exempted company’s register of shareholders is not open to inspection;
·
an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
·
an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;
·
an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);
·
an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
·
an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and
·
an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.
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“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional
circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to
pierce or lift the corporate veil).
We are subject to reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. Except as otherwise disclosed in this annual
report, we comply with the Nasdaq rules in lieu of following home country practice.
Anti-Takeover Provisions in Our Articles of Association
Some provisions of the Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of Afya or management that shareholders may consider favorable. In
particular, the capital structure of Afya concentrates ownership of voting rights in the hands of the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann. These provisions, which are summarized
below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control
of Afya to first negotiate with the board of directors. However, these provisions could also have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a
consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of the Class A common shares that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts.
These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the management of Afya. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish
transactions that shareholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Two Classes of Common Shares
The Class B common shares of Afya are entitled to 10 votes per share, while the Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share. Since they own of all of the Class B
common shares of Afya, the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann currently have the ability to elect all directors and to determine the outcome of most matters submitted for a vote of
shareholders. This concentrated voting control could discourage others from initiating any potential merger, takeover, or other change of control transaction that other
shareholders may view as beneficial.
So long as the Esteves Family and Bertelsmann have the ability to determine the outcome of most matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, third parties may be deterred in
their willingness to make an unsolicited merger, takeover, or other change of control proposal, or to engage in a proxy contest for the election of directors. As a result, the fact that
Afya has two classes of common shares may have the effect of depriving you as a holder of Class A common shares of an opportunity to sell your Class A common shares at a
premium over prevailing market prices and make it more difficult to replace the directors and management of Afya.
Preferred Shares
Our board of directors is given wide powers to issue one or more classes or series of shares with preferred rights. Such preferences may include, for example, dividend rights,
conversion rights, redemption privileges, enhanced voting powers and liquidation preferences.
Despite the anti-takeover provisions described above, under Cayman Islands law, our board of directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under the
Articles of Association, for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of Afya.
Series A Perpetual Convertible Shares
On April 26, 2021, the Company issued and sold 150,000 shares of perpetual convertible preferred shares designated as Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, with a
par value of U.S.$0.00005 per share of the Company for US$150.0 million, equivalent to R$821.8 million, on the issuance date. The Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares is
a class of equity security that ranks senior to the common shares with respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation.
Each Series A perpetual convertible preferred share is entitled to a cash dividend of 6.5% per annum and is convertible, at the holder’s discretion, into the Company’s Class A
common shares at an initial conversion price of US$25.35. The Company may require the conversion of any or all of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares at any time
on or after the three-year anniversary of the original issuance date if certain conditions set forth in the certificate of designation are met (if for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days
prior, Afya’s stock price is equal or above 150% of the conversion rate). The Company may also redeem any or all of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares for cash,
shares of its common shares or a combination thereof at its election, at any time on or after the seven-year anniversary of the original issuance date as determined in the certificate
of designation. On or after the five-year anniversary of the original issuance date, the holders of the Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares shall have the right to redeem
all of the outstanding Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares for cash, the Company’s common shares or a combination thereof (at the Company’s election, subject to
certain conditions) to be determined in the certificate of designation. Upon the occurrence of a change of control, the holders will have the right to redeem their Series A perpetual
convertible preferred shares for cash at a price set forth in the certificate of designation. The Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares will be entitled to the same voting
rights as the common shares only when converted into common shares.
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For further information on our outstanding Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and
Capital Resources—Indebtedness—Series A Perpetual Convertible Shares” and note 13.2.1(d) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual
report.
Protection of Non-Controlling Shareholders
The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands may, on the application of shareholders holding not less than one fifth of the shares of Afya in issue, appoint an inspector to examine
the Company’s affairs and report thereon in a manner as the Grand Court shall direct.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, any shareholder may petition the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands which may make a winding up order, if the court is of the
opinion that this winding up is just and equitable.
Notwithstanding the U.S. securities laws and regulations that are applicable to Afya, general corporate claims against Afya by its shareholders must, as a general rule, be
based on the general laws of contract or tort applicable in the Cayman Islands or their individual rights as shareholders as established by our Articles of Association.
The Cayman Islands courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English case law precedents, which permit a minority shareholder to commence a representative action
against Afya, or derivative actions in our name, to challenge (i) an act which is ultra vires or illegal, (ii) an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority and the wrongdoers
themselves control Afya, and (iii) an irregularity in the passing of a resolution that requires a qualified (or special) majority.
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Exhibit 8.01
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES OF AFYA LIMITED
Name of Subsidiary
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization
Afya Participações S.A. (“Afya Brazil”)
Brazil
Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos Porto S.A. – (“ITPAC Porto”)
Brazil
Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos S.A. – (“ITPAC Araguaína”)
Brazil
União Educacional do Vale do Aço S.A. – (“UNIVAÇO”)
Brazil
IPTAN - Instituto de Ensino Superior Presidente Tancredo de Almeida Neves S.A. (“IPTAN”)
Brazil
Instituto de Educação Superior do Vale do Parnaíba S.A. (“IESVAP”)
Brazil
Centro de Ciências em Saúde de Itajubá S.A. (“CCSI”)
Brazil
Instituto de Ensino Superior do Piauí
Brazil
Centro Integrado de Saúde de Teresina
Brazil
FADEP – Faculdade Educacional de Pato Branco Ltda
Brazil
Medcel Editora e Eventos S.A. (“Medcel”)
Brazil
Instituto Educacional Santo Agostinho S.A. (“FASA”)
Brazil
Instituto de Pesquisa e Ensino Médico do Estado de Minas Gerais Ltda (“IPEMED”)
Brazil
Instituto Paraense de Educação e Cultura Ltda
Brazil
Sociedade Universitária Redentor S.A. (“UniRedentor”)
Brazil
Centro Universitário São Lucas Ltda. (“UniSL”)
Brazil
PEBMED Instituição de Pesquisa Médica e Serviços Tecnológicos da Área da Saúde
Brazil
Faculdade de Ensino Superior da Amazônia Reunida – (“FESAR”)
Brazil
Centro Superior de Ciências da Saúde S/S Ltda. (“FCMPB”)
Brazil
iClinic Desenvolvimento de Software Ltda
Brazil
Medicinae Solutions S.A. (“Medicinae”)
Brazil
Medical Harbour Aparelhos Médico Hospitalares e Serviços em Tecnologia Brazil
Brazil
Cliquefarma Drogarias Online Ltda.(“Cliquefarma”)
Brazil
Shosp Tecnologia da Informação Ltda. (“Shosp”)
Brazil
Sociedade Padrão de Educação Superior Ltda. (“UnifipMoc”)
Brazil
Companhia Nilza Cordeiro Herdy de Educação e Cultura (“Unigranrio”)
Brazil
Instituto de Ensino Superior de Palhoça S/S Ltda. (“IESP PALHOÇA”)
Brazil
RX PRO Soluções de Tecnologia Ltda. (“RX PRO”)
Brazil
RX PRO LOG Transporte e Logística Ltda. (“RX PRO LOG”)
Brazil
União Educacional do Planalto Central S.A. (“UEPC”)
Brazil
BMV Atividades Médicas Ltda.
Brazil
NASPP – Núcleo de Atenção à Saúde e de Práticas Profissionalizantes Ltda.
Brazil
Cardiopapers Soluções Digitais Ltda.
Brazil
Quasar Telemedicina Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Computacionais Ltda.
Brazil
Sociedade Educacional e Cultural Sergipe DelRey Ltda.
Brazil
/s/ Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 12.1
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
I, Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 of Afya Limited (the “Company”);
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light
of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-
15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors
and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
Date: April 28, 2023
/s/ Luis André Carpintero Blanco
Luis André Carpintero Blanco
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 12.2
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER
I, Luis André Carpintero Blanco, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 of Afya Limited (the “Company”);
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light
of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-
15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors
and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
Date: April 28, 2023
/s/ Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Virgilio Deloy Capobianco Gibbon
Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 13.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Afya
Limited (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:
The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 of the Company (the “Report”), as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date
hereof, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: April 28, 2023
/s/ Luis André Carpintero Blanco
Luis André Carpintero Blanco
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 13.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Afya
Limited (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:
The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 of the Company (the “Report”), as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date
hereof, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: April 28, 2023
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:
(1) Registration Statement (Forms S-8 No. 333-268886) pertaining to the Restricted Stock Plan of Afya Limited;
(2) Registration Statement (Forms S-8 No. 333-268884) pertaining to the Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan of Afya Limited
(3) Registration Statement (Forms S-8 No. 333-251147) pertaining to the Long-term Incentive Plan of Afya Limited
(4) Registration Statement (Forms S-8 No. 333-232739) pertaining to the Stock Option Plan of Afya Participações S.A.
of our reports dated March 20, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Afya Limited, and the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting of Afya Limited, included in this Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2022.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG
Auditores Independentes S.S. Ltda.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Abril 28, 2023