SHWE.L Regulatory News (SHWE)

9 May 2019

Myanmar Strategic Holdings Ltd.

("MSH" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Completion of Yangon American International School refurbishment and start of student enrolment ahead of August 2019 opening

Myanmar Strategic Holdings (LSE: SHWE), an independent developer and manager of consumer businesses located in Myanmar, is delighted to announce that refurbishment of the Yangon American International School ("Yangon American"), the Company's first international school, has been completed on schedule and within budget. The school is based in Yangon, with a 25,000 square foot campus and planned capacity for up to 400 students, and is set to open in August 2019. 

The refurbishment works included a complete overhaul of the existing building and playground and has seen state-of-the-art facilities, systems and resources implemented. There will be an 'Early Learning Village' with specially designed Early Years classrooms with direct access to secure play and learning spaces; full technology integration, with an interactive SMART Board® in every classroom and tablets available from Kindergarten 2 onwards; premium playground & sports facilities, including a covered outdoor space with premium playground equipment, and a multi-purpose sports field for soccer, basketball, badminton and athletics; a 'five star' student café, which will serve healthy food provided by the kitchen at Novotel Yangon Max, with a variety of daily choices, and covered outdoor seating; and a parent café and 'parent help desk' where parents can access a specially designed space for refreshments and a staffed desk to assist with daily inquiries.

Yangon American was designed to meet the strong demand among local and expatriate parents for a top-tier, yet affordable international school. Yangon American will offer an American integrated standards-based curriculum through Common Core State Standards. This curriculum is used across the USA and at international schools throughout the world. The teaching staff comprises of highly experienced, credentialed teachers from the USA with a recognised Bachelor or Master's Degree.

Notably, Yangon American has now opened enrolment for local and international students in Nursery (age 2 to 3) through Grade 3 (age 8 to 9) ahead of the August launch. It is the school's longer-term ambition to add additional grade level each year, expanding up to Grade 12 (age 17 to 18) over the years.

Commenting, Enrico Cesenni, Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Strategic Holdings, said: "We are pleased to report that the refurbishment work for our first international school in Myanmar has been completed on time and on budget and that we remain on target for our August 2019 launch as we now open the enrolment to students ahead of our first term."

"The launch of the school will further consolidate MSH's position as one of the leading integrated education players in Myanmar. As Myanmar's economy continues to grow, demand for premium education and better professional opportunities will continue to increase. We are excited to lead this trend through the provision of education at internationally recognised standards, helping to develop a better future for the people of Myanmar. As the first campus reaches capacity, we will evaluate the opportunity to open additional locations in Yangon and/or other major cities in Myanmar such as Mandalay or Naypyidaw."

For more information please visit www.ms-holdings.com or contact:

Notes to editors

Myanmar Strategic Holdings Ltd.

Myanmar Strategic Holdings Ltd. is an independent developer and manager of consumer businesses located in Myanmar, one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Company's portfolio currently focuses on, Education, Services and Hospitality with the view to expand within the broader consumer sector in Myanmar.

Education sector: the Company currently has exclusive development and franchising agreements with Wall Street English for ten English language centres across Myanmar over the course of the ten-year agreement. Two centres were opened in 2017 and a third was opened in August 2018. As of March 2019, Wall Street English Myanmar served ca. 1,400 students. Through the franchise, MSH also partnered with the Directorate of Company Administration in Myanmar to provide English language courses to its civil servants.

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, Construction Project Management and Networking, Information Systems, and Security. English language learning is also provided by the Company's nearby Wall Street English centre.

The Company is also set to launch its first international school, the Yangon American International School in Yangon, in August 2019.

Services sector: through its acquisition of EXERA, the Company now offers security, risk management and secure logistics services, including cash-in-transit. Founded in 2013, EXERA employs approximately 1,100 guards 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 across Myanmar, operating under the award winning Ostello Bello budget hospitality brand. MSH operates an asset light strategy, entering into long-term operating and management agreements with local hotel owners.

Myanmar was one of the fastest growing economies in Asia in 2017 and 2018 (Source: Asian Development Bank). In 2019, its annual GDP growth is expected to be about 7% (Source: Asian Development Bank), making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

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

About Yangon American

Yangon American International School ("Yangon American") is a premium K-12 International School, located on Yangon-Insein Road in Hlaing Township in Yangon, offering an exemplary 21st century American education with an international perspective. In April 2019, MSH received an investment permit from the Myanmar Investment Commission for Yangon American, reflecting the Myanmar government's recognition of the international curriculum the school will provide, and its support for projects that aid the development of the country's education sector.

For more information about Yangon American, please visit https://yais.edu.mm or www.facebook.com/YangonAmerican.