Edvantage Group (0382.HK) Announced Its Business Update for the First 3 Quarters of FY2021

HONG KONG, Jul 26, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Edvantage Group Holdings Limited ("Edvantage Group" or the "Group", stock code: 0382.HK), the largest private higher education group in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the "Greater Bay Area"), is pleased to announce its update on certain latest unaudited financial and operational information for the nine months ended 31 May 2021 (the "Period under Review").

Shenzhen venue, Edvantage Group's Shenzhen Office, from the left: Mr. Sunny Yan, Director of ICF & IR; Ms. Liu Yi Man, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Liu Wenqi, Chief Operating Officer

Hong Kong venue, Edvantage Group's Hong Kong Office Mr. Simon Wong, CFO and Company Secretary

Actual view of Jiangmen Xinhui new campus (Phase I) of Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College

Illustration of Jiangmen Xinhui new campus of Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College

Business Highlights (Unaudited data for the 9 months ended 31 May 2021)-- Revenue (including income from vocational education business1) grew by 47.9% YoY to approximately RMB901.3 million;-- Income from vocational education business increased by 270.0% YoY to approximately RMB42.0 million, representing a big jump in income from approximately RMB15.1 million in 2020 financial year;-- Gross profit increased by 50.3% YoY to approximately RMB449.3 million, and gross margin increased by 0.8 ppt YoY to 49.9%;-- The increase in revenue and gross profit was mainly attributable to consolidation of the financial results of the Sichuan New Concept Group into the financial results of the Group since January 2021. During the Period under Review, Sichuan New Concept Group contributed 5 months of financial results to the GroupNote: (1) Income from vocational education business has been included in that from the main business since FY2021. In the first 3 quarters of FY2020, such income was reflected in other income at approximately RMB11.35 million.

During the Period under Review, the Group's revenue increased by 47.9% year-on-year ("YoY") to approximately RMB901.3 million, a record high since its listing; among which, income from vocational education business increased by 270.0% year-on-year to approximately RMB42.0 million, representing a big jump of 178.1% from approximately RMB15.1 million in 2020 financial year, showing a strong growth momentum; gross profit increased by 50.3% YoY to approximately RMB449.3 million, and gross margin increased by 0.8 percentage point YoY to 49.9%.

The increase in revenue and gross profit was mainly attributable to consolidation of the financial results of the acquired 51% equity interest in Sichuan New Concept Group into the financial results of the Group since January 2021, and its contribution to the overall financial performance of the Group has become increasingly prominent.

Business UpdateFollowing the National Policies, Society and Market Needs, High Compliance and High-quality Schooling Standards to Build A Century-old Prestigious SchoolHigher education and vocational education, both businesses of Edvantage Group, are supported by the People's Republic of China. During the Period under Review, schools were operated in key national economic development regions such as the Greater Bay Area and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle in keeping with national policies.

In terms of higher education, the Group continues optimising its major settings which focus on Big Business and New Business and expanding more majors that closely follow the employment orientation and economic development direction of the local areas in the relevant fields of education, which are big health, big data and new energy.

In terms of vocational education, the Group accelerated the promotion of its high-quality development. Income derived from this business segment has been included in that from the main business segment since FY2021, showing the Group's confidence in its development. It is expected that this business segment can bring considerable performance contributions to the Group in the future, which in turn will continuously improve the Group's profitability.

Under the background of strong support from relevant national policies and superimposed on the Group's high compliance and high-quality schooling standards, the development of the Groups' higher education and vocational education businesses will maintain a good momentum, leading it to achieve steady and sustainable development.

Guangzhou Huashang College Has Repeatedly Made Breakthroughs in High-quality SchoolingDuring the Period under Review, Guangzhou Huashang College ("Huashang College") made a new important breakthrough in teaching. In May 2021, it was approved as Project Construction Unit with the right to grant master's degree and became one of the first 8 private colleges in Guangdong Province, which was a critical milestone in the history of the Group's education development. Moreover, Huashang College also made great progress in the development of majors. Its Accounting major was included in the national-level leading top majors for development in March 2021, marking another breakthrough in the development of majors after the designation of Accounting and Financial Management as one of the leading top majors for development in Guangdong Province in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

High Synergism Between Domestic and Foreign SchoolsDuring the Period under Review, schools under the Group accelerated their synergism and deepened cooperation. The effect of integration and empowerment thus continued increasing, and also the teaching brands continued improving. Precisely, as for promoting academic education, the Group has launched international academic education programmes such as the foreign-China Dual Diploma programmes, overseas inclusive classes, international undergraduate and Global Immersion Programmes. As for enhancing students' employment competitiveness, the Group offers value-added teaching services such as various lectures by senior executives of famous companies, domestic and foreign tournaments and employment, postgraduate and certificate counselling. With the continuous provision of diversified and high-quality teaching services to students, the tuition levels and teaching brands of schools under the Group are expected to be sustainably improved.

New Campuses of Guangdong Schools are Progressing SmoothlyDuring the Period under Review, the Group's two new campuses, located in Sihui City, Zhaoqing City and Xinhui District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province respectively, were expanded smoothly. With the two new campuses being put into use successively, the Group's schooling capacity in the Greater Bay Area will see considerable rooms for expansion in the future.

About Edvantage Group Holdings LimitedEdvantage Group Holdings Limited ("Edvantage Group" or the "Group", stock code: 0382.HK) is the largest private higher education group in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the "Greater Bay Area") and an early mover in education sector in pursuing international expansion, and it was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange on 16 July 2019. As of 31 May 2021, the Group has more than 62,000 students in schools and owns a total of 8 higher education and vocational education institutes in China and overseas. In China, the Group operates Guangzhou Huashang College and Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College in Guangdong Province of the Greater Bay Area. In December 2020, the Group expanded its scope of education towards the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle by acquiring Urban Vocational College of Sichuan and Urban Technician College of Sichuan in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. In addition, the Group also operates Greater Bay Area Business School in Hong Kong. Overseas, it operates Global Business College of Australia ("GBCA"), Edvantage Institute (Singapore) ("EIS") and Edvantage Institute Australia ("EIA").

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