Hong Kong, February [X], 2020 – The Education Company Group Limited (“EDCG”), a Hong Kong incorporated holding company that invests in STREAM[1] education services in Asia Pacific, announced today that it had entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with MarcoPolo Learning, Inc, (“MPL”), a Delaware, USA incorporated company that designs and distributes early stage children English education content globally. EDCG has interests in various businesses that operate English kindergartens, ESL English learning centers, Scholastic Libraries, as well as a comprehensive coding program targeted at K-12 education. EDCG is directly controlled by Isola Capital (“Isola”) and is wholly-owned by one of Isola Capital’s private equity funds. Isola continues to focus on unique private equity investment opportunities in consumer sectors, including education, health and wellness, food and beverage and healthcare products and services across Asia Pacific, especially in Greater China, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
The strategic collaboration between EDCG and MPL provides MPL with immediate access to captive students in South Korea that are attending kindergartens and learning centers operating under the EDCG umbrella and those of its strategic partners. South Korea boast one of the highest per capita spending on private education in the world; and as an economy focused on advanced technologies and exports, coding was made compulsory for school curriculum in 2018. EDCG’s group companies and their operations in South Korea are leading players in English, and will adapt MPL’s content into its delivery of online/offline education programs, which will promote and distribute MPL’s class leading curriculum beyond its campuses to others learning centres, education-related institutions, and students’ homes.
“We are very excited to collaborate with an emerging global education content leader such as MarcoPolo Learning, as they seek to introduce their STREAM content across Asia Pacific.” said Chris Kim, CEO of The Education Co., Ltd. (“EDC”). EDC is EDCG’s main operating subsidiary in South Korea. “We have an extensive presence nationwide in terms of schools and student base, with a network of leading education partners in South Korea. We believe we can help introduce MarcoPolo Learning’s excellent content to students to aid their learning of thematic subject matters in South Korea.”
“We are delighted to partner with EDCG and further drive our strategy to become a leading global education content company. This collaboration allows us to deliver our world class educational content to students in South Korea, which is a leader in STREAM education in Asia Pacific. We look forward to introducing and launching our class leading curriculum to the South Korean market together with our partner, EDCG.” said Justin Hsu, CEO and Founder of MPL.
“The collaboration with MarcoPolo Learning is another milestone for EDCG in its strategy to become an Asia Pacific leader in STREAM education services,” said Anthony Chan, Director of EDCG. “We are excited to establish the partnership with MarcoPolo Learning, and view this as the beginning of a long-lasting strategic partnership that will enhance the learning experience for students. We look forward to exploring more areas where we can further collaborate with MarcoPolo Learning and better equip students with 21st century skills.”
About The Education Company Group
The Education Company Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a fast-growing Asia Pacific private education platform designed to equip young students with critical 21st century STREAM skills that focuses on English and coding. EDCG currently has a network of 16 schools with over 5,300 students in South Korea through its operating subsidiary, EDC. EDC operates private English kindergartens and learning centres in South Korea in partnership with the leading US education content publisher, Scholastic Inc. EDCG, through its other operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong and South Korea, has also developed the Wonder Code coding education program, in partnership with Silicon-Valley based leading education robotics designer, Wonder Workshop.
For more information about EDC, please visit www.theedc.co.kr
About MarcoPolo Learning
MarcoPolo Learning is an award-winning global educational media company with an ecosystem of research-driven, immersive learning products for early learners aged 3-7 years old. Powered by cognitive development research and designed by leading PhDs in early childhood education, MarcoPolo Learning’s flagship digital learning platform, MarcoPolo World School, teaches STEAM, literacy and core skills, while developing “future skills,” such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and teamwork through 450+ video lessons and 3,000+ learning activities. “The Polos” series, its narrative learning series, is reaching more than 500 million households across the world through 3D animation.
For more information, please visit www.marcopololearning.com
About Isola
Isola Capital, headquartered in Hong Kong, operates various private investment funds, and also has an asset management division, which is operated through Isola Capital Asset Management. Isola’s private equity strategies are focused on investing into controlling stakes in selected consumer sectors across Asia Pacific. The key sectors of focus include education, food safety, wellbeing consumer products and healthcare.
For more information, please visit www.isola-capital.com
CONTACT: investorrelations@isola-capital.com
SOURCE: Isola Capital Partners
[1] STREAM refers to the prevailing pedagogy of science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math
