FIRSTLEAP EDUCATION, an English-language tutoring service based in China, has agreed to be acquired by TAL Education Group, a publicly traded holding company that provides K-12 after-school tutoring services. Founded in 2009, Firstleap operates over 60 learning centers in over 20 cities in China, along with an online one-on-one English tutoring service with native speakers. “After the acquisition, we plan to keep Firstleap as a separate brand for independent operation within the company structure,” said TAL’s chief executive, Bangxin Zhang, in a prepared statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
