2025 Education M&A Boom: How Capital is Reshaping China’s Learning Landscape
From automakers to retail giants, cross-sector players are racing to claim a stake in the education industry
Introduction: Education as the Next Frontier of Industrial Strategy
In the first half of 2025, China's education sector witnessed a dramatic uptick in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. No longer the sole domain of traditional education providers, the space is now attracting capital from automotive giants, technology platforms, vocational training groups, and family service conglomerates.
From Hanbo Technology’s RMB 502.5 million acquisition of vocational education leader Mayflower, to parenting brand Kidswant’s full takeover of Leyou International, to Chery Auto’s bold entrance into EdTech by acquiring a quarter of HiteVision—these strategic investments signal a powerful trend: education is no longer a standalone vertical, but a key enabler of industrial transformation.
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Hanbo Technology: Investing in the Vocational Pipeline
On February 10, 2025, Hanbo Technology made headlines by acquiring 100% equity in Sichuan Tezhui Mayflower Education Management for over RMB 500 million. With this move, Hanbo indirectly took control of publicly listed Century Dingli (300050.SZ), a company operating across telecommunications and vocational education.
Founded in 2023, Hanbo Technology positions itself as a comprehensive platform focused on smart manufacturing, AI, and industrial investment. The acquisition marks Hanbo's formal entry into the EdTech space, signaling its intent to accelerate vocational education, AI-powered teaching solutions, and international education expansion.
For Century Dingli—an early mover in education-communication integration—Hanbo's capital and technical capabilities could unlock a new phase of innovation in smart classrooms, 5G-enabled learning, and professional skill training.
Kidswant & Leyou International: Building a Full-Spectrum Family Service Ecosystem
On February 5, Kidswant Children’s Products Co., Ltd. (301078.SZ) announced the completion of its acquisition of the remaining 35% stake in Leyou International, a leading Chinese maternity and infant retail chain. This finalizes Kidswant’s full ownership after an earlier 65% stake acquisition in 2023.
The acquisition, valued at RMB 1.04 billion with a premium of over 227%, underscores the strategic significance of vertical integration in the parenting economy. Through this move, Kidswant strengthens its footprint in tier-1 and tier-2 cities, expands its service portfolio, and gains access to Leyou’s mature member-based retail system.
The deal also involved a RMB 560 million “M&A loan” secured by the acquired equity—a sign of growing financialization in education-adjacent industries.
Chuanzhi Education x Youyou Huilian: Closing the Loop in Cross-Border Talent Training
On February 12, Chuanzhi Education completed its acquisition of a 51% stake in Xiamen-based Youyou Huilian, a company specializing in training talent for cross-border e-commerce.
Best known for its coding bootcamps and digital skills training (e.g., “Black Horse Programmer”), Chuanzhi is expanding its reach into the global trade workforce. This acquisition is aligned with its vision to offer a full-stack education solution spanning youth enrichment, vocational skills, degree programs, and continuing education.
In addition, Chuanzhi acquired a 51% stake in Singapore-based Furen Holdings earlier this year, further reinforcing its international ambitions.
Chery Auto x HiteVision: Smart Manufacturing Meets Smart Education
On June 11, EdTech company HiteVision announced a landmark RMB 1.575 billion investment from Chery Auto’s private equity arm, Rui Cheng Fund. With this, Chery becomes the controlling shareholder of HiteVision—marking the single largest education M&A transaction in China so far in 2025.
HiteVision is a major provider of interactive education hardware and digital classroom solutions in over 100 countries. With China’s EdTech sector under pressure due to regulatory tightening and slowing hardware demand, the partnership aims to reposition HiteVision from a device manufacturer to a comprehensive EdTech service operator.
For Chery, the move is part of a broader strategy to build a skilled industrial workforce by integrating education directly into the automotive value chain. The company had already co-founded an industrial college with a local vocational school in 2024.
Conclusion: From "Education+" to the Battle for Systemic Integration
The surge in education-related M&As reveals a deeper trend: education is no longer a vertical—it's becoming infrastructure. Whether it’s retail, manufacturing, or technology, industries are racing to embed education within their ecosystems, not just as CSR or HR pipelines, but as growth engines.
In this new landscape, the winners won't be determined solely by teaching content or faculty credentials. Instead, companies that can integrate education into broader industry systems, leverage cross-sector synergies, and build collaborative platforms will be the ones to define the future of learning in China—and beyond.
For cross-industry investors, education is no longer an auxiliary sector. It’s a strategic entry point for innovation, influence, and long-term value creation.