REG - Asia Strategic Ltd - Exclusive agreement for Kids&Us School of English

Asia Strategic HoldingsAnnouncement

25/04/2022 11:30

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RNS Number : 2213J  Asia Strategic Holdings Limited   25 April 2022

25 April 2022

 

Asia Strategic Holdings Ltd.

("Asia Strategic" or the "Company")

 

Exclusive franchising agreement for the development of "Kids&Us School of
English" in Myanmar

 

Asia Strategic Holdings Ltd. (LSE: ASIA), the independent developer and
operator of consumer businesses located in emerging Asia, is pleased to
announce that it has today entered into an exclusive franchising agreement
with Kids&Us English, S.L.U ("Kids&Us") for the development of English
language centres for children under the brand "Kids&Us School of English"
in Myanmar.

 

Kids&Us is a leading provider of English language education for children
from as young as 1 year old and teenagers. Founded in Manresa, Barcelona, in
2003, Kids&Us has over 155,000 students across 437 schools in Spain and 90
schools internationally.

 

Since founding the school, Natàlia Perarnau has developed an innovative and
effective pedagogical method:

·   Kids&Us uses a unique teaching method based on the natural process
of developing one's mother tongue, a process which takes place in a specific,
natural and spontaneous order.

·   The courses are adapted to the students' ages and life experiences.

·   Small groups - a maximum of 5 in the 'Babies' stage (1 and 2-year-olds)
and 8 across the rest of the courses - allow for personalised attention and a
high level of student participation and interaction in the classroom.

·   Continuity of the courses allows children to learn from 1 year old.

·   Classes are conducted entirely in English, ensuring total linguistic
immersion.

·   Students can continue learning English outside of class time:

o The Kids&Us 360º Universe provides an endless range of activities and
stimulating opportunities to continue learning at urban day camps, workshops
(for cooking, science, theatre), summer camps, etc.

o Products created by Kids&Us include books, boardgames, etc.

o Apps, online homework exercises and electronic devices.

Under the terms of this exclusive franchising agreement, the Company shall pay
Kids&Us (i) an initial fee of approximately EUR 100,000, (ii) ongoing
service fees as a percentage of revenues and (iii) didactic materials based on
consumption, among other fees.

 

The Company is planning for its first two centres to be located in Yangon and
to be operational by June 2023.

 

Commenting on the partnership, Natàlia Perarnau and Quim Serracanta, founders
of Kids&Us School of English, said: "We are delighted that we have agreed
to this strategic partnership with Asia Strategic Holdings for the provision
of English language education to children in Myanmar. Education is a truly
universal right, and we are excited about the opportunity to offer our
best-in-class methodology and products in Myanmar. We look forward to a long
and prosperous relationship with Asia Strategic Holdings and further expanding
the Kids&Us global brand into Asia. "

 

Commenting, Enrico Cesenni, Chief Executive Officer of Asia Strategic
Holdings, said: "Over the past two years, Asia Strategic Holdings has
assessed several brands and teaching methodologies to determine the most
suitable to Myanmar and the broader Asia region. Kids&Us and its founders
have a clear vision, driven successful academic outcomes and built an
excellent offline and online product as demonstrated by their commercial
success across Europe.

 

"We hope that this partnership marks the beginning of a highly beneficial,
mutual relationship with Kids&Us. While the situation in Myanmar remains
volatile, there is a significant market for the provision of globally
recognised education programmes. We aim to continue growing our presence in
this sector over the coming years."

 

For more information, please visit www.asia-strategic.com
(http://www.asia-strategic.com)  or contact:

 

 Asia Strategic Holdings Ltd.                                richard@asia-strategic.com (mailto:richard@asia-strategic.com)

 Richard Greer, Independent Non-Executive Chairman           enrico@asia-strategic.com (mailto:enrico@asia-strategic.com)

 Enrico Cesenni (OSI), Founder and Chief Executive Officer

 Allenby Capital Limited (Broker)                            +44 (0)20 3328 5656

 Nick Athanas

 Nick Naylor

 Freddie Wooding

 Yellow Jersey PR (Financial PR)                             +44 (0) 7951 402 336

 Henry Wilkinson

 

Notes to editors

Asia Strategic Holdings Ltd.

Asia Strategic Holdings Ltd. (LSE: ASIA) is an independent developer and
operator of consumer businesses in Vietnam and Myanmar, two of the fastest
growing economies in the world over the last decade. The Company's portfolio
currently focuses on Education, Services and Hospitality with the view to
expand within the broader consumer sector.

Education sector:  the Company currently has exclusive development and
franchising agreements with Wall Street English for up to ten English language
centres across Myanmar. Two centres were opened in 2017, a third in August
2018, and a fourth in February 2020. As of September 2021, Wall Street English
Myanmar served ca 1,900 students.

In July 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of the Wall Street English
business in Vietnam. Founded in 2013, the WSE Vietnam business operates
through seven centres in Ho Chi Minh and Binh Dhuong serving ca. 3,300
students.

The Company also operates a joint venture with Auston Institute of Management
to develop and operate the Auston College Myanmar. The private school opened
in May 2018 offering diplomas in Engineering Technology, Mechanical
Engineering and Networking, Information Systems, and Security. English
language learning is also provided by the Company's nearby Wall Street English
centre. In February 2020, the Company announced a partnership with Liverpool
John Moores University to provide high quality engineering training programmes
for young, working professionals in Myanmar, to be taught by Auston College
Myanmar's teaching staff at its Junction Square complex in Yangon.

In August 2019 the Company launched its first private K-12 international
school, the Yangon American International School ("Yangon American") in
Yangon. In July 2021 Yangon American was recognised as an official
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme ("IB PYP") school by the
International Baccalaureate Organization.

In April 2022, the Company entered into an exclusive franchising agreement
with Kids&Us for the development of English language schools for children
across Myanmar. The first two centres shall be opened in Yangon by June 2023.

Services sector:  through its acquisition of EXERA, the Company offers
security, risk management and secure logistics services, including
cash-in-transit. Founded in 2013, EXERA employs approximately 1,600
well-trained and high-quality security officers making it one of the largest
security services providers in Myanmar.

Hospitality sector:  through its portfolio, the Company currently manages
over 470 beds across four boutique hotels in three core tourist locations in
Myanmar, operating under the award winning Ostello Bello budget hospitality
brand. The Company operates an asset light strategy, entering into long-term
operating and management agreements with local hotel owners.

Vietnam and Myanmar were among the fastest growing economies in Asia in
2017-2020 (Source: Asian Development Bank). In 2022, Vietnam's annual GDP
growth is expected to be 6.5% (Source: Asian Development Bank).

The Company is well positioned to provide investors early exposure
to Vietnam's and Myanmar's strong economic fundamentals enhanced
by ASEAN's wider growth prospects.

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the 'RNS' header:

https://ms-holdings.com/investor-relations/#
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Kids&Us

Founded in Manresa, Barcelona, in 2003 by Natàlia Perarnau and Quim
Serracanta, Kids&Us has over 155,000 students in 437 schools in Spain and
90 schools in various countries in Europe, Mexico, Japan and Morocco.

In 2017, Corpfin Capital acquired a majority stake in Kids&Us together
with its founders, with the aim of promoting a new stage of growth and
professionalisation of the company.

https://www.kidsandus.es/en/ (https://www.kidsandus.es/en/)

 

 

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