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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2010
Registration No. 333-169650
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
 
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
TAL Education Group
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Cayman Islands	 	8200	 	Not Applicable	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)	 	(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)	
 
18/F, Hesheng Building
32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing 100080
People’s Republic of China
+86 (10) 5292 6669
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 
 
Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc.
400 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10017
(212) 750-6474
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 
 
Copies to:

Z. Julie Gao, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
c/o 42/F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road, Central
Hong Kong
+852 3740 4700	 	Alan Seem, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
12th Floor, East Tower, Twin Towers
B-12 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing 100022
People’s Republic of China
+86 (10) 5922 8000	

 
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  as soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement
 
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.   o
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   o
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   o
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   o

 
 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Proposed maximum
	 	 	 	
Title of each class of
	 	 	Amount to be
	 	 	Proposed Maximum
	 	 	aggregate
	 	 	Amount of
	
securities to be registered	 	 	Registered(1)(2)	 	 	Offering Price Per Share(2)	 	 	offering price(2)	 	 	registration fee	
Class A common shares, par value $0.001 per share (1)(3)	 	 	27,600,000	 	 	$5.00	 	 	$138,000,000	 	 	$9,839.00(4)	

 
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Includes 3,600,000 Class A common shares that may be purchased by the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any. Also includes Class A common shares initially offered and sold outside the United States that may be resold from time to time in the United States either as part of their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the effective date of this registration statement and the date the shares are first bona fide offered to the public. These Class A common shares are not being registered for the purpose of sales outside the United States.	

(2)	 	Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.	

(3)	 	American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of the Class A common shares registered hereby have been registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-169777). Each American depositary share represents two Class A common shares.	

(4)	 	Of this amount, $7,130.00 was previously paid.	
 
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion. Dated October 6, 2010.

 
TAL Education Group
 
12,000,000 American Depositary Shares
Representing
24,000,000 Class A Common Shares

 
 
This is an initial public offering of American depositary shares, or ADSs, of TAL Education Group. We are offering 12,000,000 ADSs. Each ADS represents two Class A common shares, par value $0.001 per share.
 
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ADSs or our shares. We currently estimate that the initial public offering price per ADS will be between $8.00 and $10.00. We have applied to have the ADSs listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “XRS.”
 
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 to read about risks you should consider before buying the ADSs.

PRICE $           PER ADS

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Underwriting
	 	 	
 	 	 	 	discounts and
	 	Proceeds
	
 	 	Price to public	 	commissions	 	before expenses	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Per ADS	 	$	          	 	 	$	          	 	 	$	          	 	
Total	 	$	 	 	 	$	 	 	 	$	 	 	
 
The underwriters have an option to purchase up to an additional 1,800,000 ADSs from us at the initial public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.
 
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs to purchasers on or about          , 2010.

 	 	
Credit Suisse	Morgan Stanley	

Piper Jaffray	Oppenheimer & Co.	

 
 
The date of this prospectus is          , 2010.

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Summary	 	 	1	 	 	 	 	 	
Risk Factors	 	 	12	 	 	 	 	 	
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	 	 	40	 	 	 	 	 	
Use of Proceeds	 	 	41	 	 	 	 	 	
Dividend Policy	 	 	42	 	 	 	 	 	
Capitalization	 	 	43	 	 	 	 	 	
Dilution	 	 	44	 	 	 	 	 	
Exchange Rate Information	 	 	46	 	 	 	 	 	
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities	 	 	47	 	 	 	 	 	
Our Corporate History and Structure	 	 	49	 	 	 	 	 	
Selected Consolidated Financial Data	 	 	55	 	 	 	 	 	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	 	 	58	 	 	 	 	 	
Market Opportunity	 	 	85	 	 	 	 	 	
Business	 	 	90	 	 	 	 	 	
Regulation	 	 	103	 	 	 	 	 	
Management	 	 	113	 	 	 	 	 	
Principal Shareholders	 	 	119	 	 	 	 	 	
Related Party Transactions	 	 	121	 	 	 	 	 	
Description of Share Capital	 	 	122	 	 	 	 	 	
Description of American Depositary Shares	 	 	130	 	 	 	 	 	
Shares Eligible for Future Sale	 	 	140	 	 	 	 	 	
Taxation	 	 	142	 	 	 	 	 	
Underwriting	 	 	149	 	 	 	 	 	
Expenses Related to This Offering	 	 	155	 	 	 	 	 	
Legal Matters	 	 	156	 	 	 	 	 	
Experts	 	 	157	 	 	 	 	 	
Additional Information	 	 	158	 	 	 	 	 	
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	 	F-1	 	 	 	 	 	
 EX-1.1	
 EX-3.2	
 EX-4.3	
 EX-8.1	
 EX-23.1	

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the ADSs only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the ADSs.
 
We have not taken any action to permit a public offering of the ADSs outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the ADSs and the distribution of the prospectus outside the United States.
 
Through and including          , 2010 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.
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SUMMARY
 
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in the ADSs, you should carefully read the entire prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes included in this prospectus and the information set forth under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” In addition, we commissioned iResearch Consulting Group, or iResearch, an independent market research firm, to prepare a report for the purpose of providing various industry and other information and illustrating our position in the K-12 after-school tutoring service market in China. Information from the report prepared by iResearch, or the iResearch Report, appears in “Summary,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Market Opportunity,” “Business” and other sections of this prospectus. We have taken such care as we consider reasonable in the reproduction and extraction of information from the iResearch Report and other third-party sources. Student enrollments in this prospectus refer to the cumulative total number of courses enrolled in and paid for by our students, including multiple courses enrolled in and paid for by the same student; if one student enrolls in two separate tutoring courses, we count that as two student enrollments.
 
Our Business
 
We are the largest K-12 after-school tutoring service provider in China in terms of revenues in 2009, according to iResearch. We offer comprehensive tutoring services to K-12 students covering core academic subjects, including mathematics, English, Chinese, physics, chemistry and biology. We have successfully established “Xueersi” as a leading brand in China’s K-12 private education market closely associated with high teaching quality and academic excellence in China, as evidenced by our students’ outstanding academic performance, our over 70% annual retention rate, our ability to recruit most of our students through word-of-mouth referrals as well as the numerous recognitions and awards we have received. The K-12 after-school tutoring service market in China is highly fragmented. In 2009, we had a 0.26% market share in China and a 4.5% market share in Beijing, in each case as measured by revenues for the year according to iResearch.
 
We deliver our tutoring services through small classes, personalized premium services (i.e., one-on-one tutoring) and online course offerings. Our extensive network consists of 109 learning centers and 87 service centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan, as well as our online platform. Our student enrollments increased from 67,996 in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to 382,505 in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 137.2%. Our student enrollment growth has been predominantly driven by new students.
 
We are committed to providing our students with high-quality services and an exceptional learning experience. Our commitment is reflected in our continual focus on recruiting, training and retaining teachers with strong academic credentials, relevant experience and a passion for education; our emphasis on developing, updating and improving our curricula and course materials; and our focus on standardizing operating procedures throughout our network. This in turn has led to a strong track record of outstanding student achievement. In 2010, 169 out of our 430 high school graduates were admitted to Peking University or Tsinghua University, the two most prestigious universities in China that collectively enroll only less than 0.1% of the high school graduates across the country. In the same year, approximately 5,700 of our students in Beijing and Shanghai were admitted to key high schools, representing approximately 77% enrollment rate in comparison to the regional average of approximately 30%; and more than 5,500 of our students in Beijing and Shanghai were admitted to key middle schools, representing approximately 81% enrollment rate in comparison to the regional average of 15-25%. In addition, our students have won a significant number of regional, national and international math competitions, including three gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2008 and 2009.
 
Our online platform, www.eduu.com, hosts China’s largest and most active online education community for our existing and potential students and their parents, and is the largest Internet education portal in China, based on the average monthly page views and average monthly unique visitors in the first six months of 2010. It provides our existing and potential students access to learning resources beyond our physical network,
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increases student loyalty and stickiness and enhances our brand awareness. In addition, our online platform enables us to continue to roll out and expand our online course offerings. As word-of-mouth referrals and our online communities have contributed significantly to student recruitment, we have not incurred significant advertising expenses in the past. Revenues generated from our online course offerings have accounted for less than 1.5% of our total net revenues since we began offering online courses in 2010.
 
We have experienced significant growth in recent years. Our total net revenues increased from $8.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $69.6 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 179.9%. Our net income increased from $1.5 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $14.2 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 206.9%. Our total net revenues for the six months ended August 31, 2010 were $53.0 million, and our net income for the same period was $13.2 million.
 
Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in the education business in China, we operate our after-school tutoring service business primarily through our variable interest entities and their subsidiaries and schools in China. We do not hold equity interests in our variable interest entities; however, through a series of contractual arrangements with these variable interest entities and their respective shareholders, we effectively control, and are able to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from, these variable interest entities.
 
Market Opportunity
 
We believe that the K-12 after-school tutoring market is the most attractive sector in China’s private education market given the large addressable market it serves, its rapid growth rate and its highly fragmented nature. According to statistics published by the Ministry of Education of China, there were approximately 180 million students in primary, middle and high schools in China at the end of 2008, presenting a large addressable market for K-12 after-school tutoring services. The growth of the K-12 after-school tutoring market is also compelling. According to iResearch, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China grew from RMB123.8 billion in 2007 to RMB189.7 billion ($27.8 billion) in 2009, representing a CAGR of 23.8%, and is projected to grow to RMB447.2 billion ($65.5 billion) in 2014, representing a CAGR of 18.7% from 2009. We believe that rising levels of disposable income, increasing spending on private education, and intense competition for quality education and job opportunities in China are among the key factors that will contribute to the future growth of the K-12 after-school tutoring market. Moreover, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China is highly fragmented with no player holding over 1% market share. This fragmented market presents opportunities for private tutoring service providers that offer high-quality services and have a strong track record, brand and reputation to attract and retain more students and increase market share.
 
Our Competitive Strengths and Strategies
 
We believe that the following competitive strengths have contributed to our success and differentiate us from our competitors:

 	•  	largest K-12 after-school tutoring service provider in China;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	brand strength;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	outstanding student performance;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	high teaching quality, strong content development and efficient education management system;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	largest Internet education platform in China; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	innovative and entrepreneurial management team with a passion for education.	
 
We intend to pursue the following key growth strategies:

 	•  	further penetrate our existing markets;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	extend our geographic network into attractive new markets;	

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 	•  	expand our personalized premium services; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	further develop our online course offerings.	
 
Our Challenges
 
The successful execution of our strategies is subject to risks and uncertainties related to our business and industry, including those relating to:

 	•  	our ability to continue to attract students to enroll in our courses;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified teachers;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our ability to improve the content of our existing course offerings and to develop new courses in a timely and cost-effective manner;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our ability to maintain and enhance our brand;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our historical financial and operating results, growth rates and profitability may not serve as an adequate basis to judge our future prospects and results of operations;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our ability to maintain and continue to improve our teaching results in terms of student performance and the level of satisfaction with our services; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our ability to compete effectively against our competitors.	
 
In addition, we are subject to risks and uncertainties related to our corporate structure and doing business in China, including, but not limited to:

 	•  	risks associated with our control of our variable interest entities, which control is based upon contractual arrangements rather than equity ownership;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	risks associated with our ability to fund our expansion plan due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign currency conversion and restrictions on distribution of school profits, among others;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	uncertainties with respect to PRC regulatory restrictions on after-school tutoring services, including regulations issued by certain provincial governmental authorities prohibiting private schools from offering after-school tutoring classes to primary and secondary school students; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	risks associated with our ability to obtain various operating licenses and permits and to make registrations and filings for all of our learning centers in China.	
 
See “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties associated with our business and investing in our ADSs.
 
Our Corporate History and Structure
 
Our founders, Mr. Bangxin Zhang and Mr. Yundong Cao, offered our first after-school mathematics tutoring class in August 2003 when they were still attending graduate school in Peking University. In 2005, our founders established a domestic company in China named Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd., or Xueersi Education. In order to facilitate foreign investment in our company, in January 2008, we incorporated TAL Education Group, or TAL Group, to become our offshore holding company under the laws of the Cayman Islands. TAL Group established Xueersi International Education Group Limited, or Xueersi Hong Kong, in Hong Kong in March 2008 as our intermediary holding company. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Taxation—PRC” for a discussion of tax implications of having Xueersi Hong Kong as our intermediary holding company. Xueersi Hong Kong subsequently established three wholly owned subsidiaries in China: TAL Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or TAL Beijing, in May 2008; Beijing Huanqiu Zhikang Shidai Education Consulting Co., Ltd, or Huanqiu Zhikang, in September 2009; and Beijing Yidu Huida Education Technology Co., Ltd., or Yidu Huida, in November 2009.
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The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure:

 

(1)	 	Each person is an ultimate beneficial owner and also a director or executive officer of TAL Group.	
 
Due to the PRC legal restriction on foreign ownership and investment in the education business in China, we rely on a series of contractual arrangements among TAL Beijing, Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd., or Xueersi Education, Beijing Xueersi Network Technology Co., Ltd., or Xueersi Network, and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries and schools to conduct most of our tutoring services in China, while our personalized premium services in Beijing are offered through our subsidiary, Huanqiu Zhikang. These contractual arrangements enable us to:

 	•  	exercise effective control over Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries in consideration for the services provided by us; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	have an exclusive option to purchase all of the equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network when and to the extent permitted under PRC law.	
 
We do not have equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network; however, as a result of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and treat them as our variable interest entities under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or
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U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, we refer to Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network collectively as our “variable interest entities,” or “VIEs.” We refer to our VIEs and the VIEs’ direct and indirect subsidiaries and schools collectively as “affiliated entities.” Moreover, in the contractual arrangements, the shareholders of the VIEs, in exchange for relinquishing effective control over the VIEs, received pro rata equity interests in TAL Group, which serves to align their interests with our company’s in performing those contracts. For a more detailed discussion of the risk of potential conflicts of interest associated with our corporate structure, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure — The beneficial owners of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.”
 
We have consolidated the financial results of our VIEs and their subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For the fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010, $8.9 million, $37.5 million and $68.9 million, or 100%, 100% and 99.0% of our total net revenues, respectively, are attributable to our VIEs.
 
Huanqiu Zhikang operates our personalized premium services in Beijing. Except for our personalized premium services in Beijing, none of our existing services is conducted directly by our subsidiaries. Yidu Huida was formed as part of our corporate strategic planning and has yet to conduct any significant business operations. Yidu Huida may in the future provide information technology support to our other subsidiaries and affiliated entities, which is within the business scope of Yidu Huida.
 
For a more detailed description of our corporate history and structure, see “Our Corporate History and Structure.” For a detailed description of the regulatory environment for private education that necessitates the adoption of our corporate structure, see “Regulation.” For a detailed description of the risks associated with our corporate structure and the contractual arrangements that support our corporate structure, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”
 
Our Corporate Information
 
Our principal executive offices are located at 18/F, Hesheng Building, 32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 (10) 5292 6669. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
 
Our corporate website address is www.xueersi.org. The information contained on our websites is not a part of this prospectus. Our agent for service of process in the U.S. is Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc.
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Conventions Used in this Prospectus
 
In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references to:

 	•  	“we,” “us,” “our company,” or “our” refers to TAL Education Group, its subsidiaries and its affiliated entities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	“common shares” refers to our Class A and Class B common shares, par value US$0.001 per share;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	“preferred shares” or “Series A preferred shares” refers to our Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares, par value US$0.001 per share;	

 	•  	“ADSs” refers to American depositary shares, each of which representing two Class A common shares;	

 	•  	“variable interest entities,” or “VIEs,” refers to Beijing Xueersi Network Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd., which are domestic PRC companies in which we do not have equity interests but whose financial results have been consolidated into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP due to our having effective control over, and our being the primary beneficiary of, these companies; and “affiliated entities” refers to our VIEs and the VIEs’ direct and indirect subsidiaries and schools;	

 	•  	“student enrollments” refers to the cumulative total number of courses enrolled in and paid for by our students, including multiple courses enrolled in and paid for by the same student;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	“annual retention rate” refers to the percentage of our students who subsequently enroll in one or more of our courses after enrolling in at least one course in the previous fiscal year;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	“China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding for purposes of this prospectus only, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	“K-12” refers to the year before the first grade through the last year of high school;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	“Renminbi” or “RMB” refers to the legal currency of China; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	‘‘$,” “dollars” or “U.S. dollars” refers to the legal currency of the United States.	
 
Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional ADSs.
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THE OFFERING

Offering price	 	We currently expect that the initial public offering price will be between $8.00 and $10.00 per ADS.	

ADSs offered by us	 	12,000,000 ADSs.	

ADSs outstanding immediately after this offering	 	12,000,000 ADSs.	

Common shares outstanding immediately after this offering	 	149,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share, comprised of (i) 24,000,000 Class A common shares, and (ii) 125,000,000 Class B common shares.	

ADS to Class A common share ratio	 	1:2	

Proposed New York Stock Exchange symbol	 	XRS.	
 	 	 	
Common shares	 	Our common shares are divided into Class A common shares and Class B common shares. Holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. In respect of matters requiring shareholders’ vote, each Class A common share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B common share is entitled to ten votes. Each Class B common share is convertible into one Class A common share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A common shares are not convertible into Class B common shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B common shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, such Class B common shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the equal number of Class A common shares.	
 	 	 	
Depositary	 	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.	

Over-allotment option	 	The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,800,000 additional ADSs from us at the initial public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions.	

Reserved ADSs	 	At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to 5% of the total number of ADSs offered in this offering (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option) to some of our directors, officers, employees, business associates and related persons through a directed share program.	

Use of proceeds	 	We plan to use the net proceeds received from this offering to expand our network of learning centers and service centers, build a national training center, pay a declared cash dividend in the amount of $30.0 million to our shareholders of record as of the dividend declaration date conditional upon the completion of this offering, improve our existing facilities, and for other general corporate purposes, including strategic investments in and acquisitions of complementary businesses, although we are not currently negotiating any such investment or acquisition. See “Use of Proceeds” for more information.	

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Lock-up	 	We, our directors and executive officers and all of our existing shareholders have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell, transfer or dispose of any ADSs, common shares or similar securities for a period of 180 days after the date this prospectus. See “Underwriting” for more information.	

Risk factors	 	See “Risk Factors” and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before investing in the ADSs.	
 
The number of common shares that will be outstanding immediately after this offering:

 	•  	assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase 1,800,000 additional ADSs;	

 	•  	reflects the conversion of all outstanding Series A preferred shares into 5,000,000 Class B common shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	excludes 5,419,500 Class A common shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted shares issued under our 2010 share incentive plan that are outstanding as of the date of this prospectus; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	excludes Class A common shares reserved for future grants under our 2010 share incentive plan.	

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Summary Consolidated Financial Data and Operating Data
 
You should read the following information concerning us in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
The following summary consolidated statements of operations data for the three fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data as of February 28, 2009 and 2010 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated balance sheet data as of February 29, 2008 are derived from our audited financial statements, which are not included in this prospectus. Our audited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and have been audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., an independent registered public accounting firm.
 
The summary consolidated statements of operations data for the six months ended August 31, 2009 and 2010 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data as of August 31, 2010 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited financial information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for the periods presented. You should read the summary consolidated financial information in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any future period.

 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(in thousands of $, except for shares,
	 	
 	 	per share and per ADS data)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Summary Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	8,882	 	 	$	37,476	 	 	$	69,594	 	 	$	32,983	 	 	$	53,022	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total cost of revenues	 	 	(4,367	)	 	 	(18,554	)	 	 	(37,649	)	 	 	(16,068	)	 	 	(26,255	)(1)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	 	 	4,515	 	 	 	18,922	 	 	 	31,945	 	 	 	16,915	 	 	 	26,767	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing	 	 	(370	)	 	 	(2,353	)	 	 	(5,608	)	 	 	(1,958	)	 	 	(4,184	)(2)	
General and administrative	 	 	(2,478	)	 	 	(5,890	)	 	 	(10,872	)	 	 	(4,602	)	 	 	(7,808	)(3)	
Impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,615	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	(2,848	)	 	 	(9,858	)	 	 	(16,480	)	 	 	(6,560	)	 	 	(11,992	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from operations	 	 	1,667	 	 	 	9,064	 	 	 	15,465	 	 	 	10,355	 	 	 	14,775	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income, net	 	 	11	 	 	 	77	 	 	 	283	 	 	 	103	 	 	 	162	 	
Other expenses	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(210	)	 	 	(124	)	 	 	(119	)	 	 	(27	)	
Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(363	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	6	 	
Gain on extinguishment of liabilities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	731	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income tax provision	 	 	1,678	 	 	 	9,299	 	 	 	15,624	 	 	 	10,339	 	 	 	14,916	 	
Provision for income tax	 	 	(165	)	 	 	(2,018	)	 	 	(1,379	)	 	 	(912	)	 	 	(1,670	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	1,513	 	 	$	7,281	 	 	$	14,245	 	 	$	9,427	 	 	$	13,246	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Deemed dividends on Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to common shareholders	 	$	1,513	 	 	$	3,168	 	 	$	14,245	 	 	$	9,427	 	 	$	13,246	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	

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 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(in thousands of $, except for shares,
	 	
 	 	per share and per ADS data)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-basic	 	 	— 	 	 	$	17.69	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per ADS (5) :	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.05	 	 	$	0.23	 	 	$	0.15	 	 	$	0.22	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.05	 	 	$	0.23	 	 	$	0.15	 	 	$	0.22	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	
Diluted	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	125,193,360	 	
Pro forma net income per common share (4)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.10	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.10	 	
Pro forma net income per ADS (4)(5)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.22	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.21	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.22	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.21	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating pro forma net income per common share (4)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	123,501,120	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	123,723,146	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	128,501,120	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	128,723,146	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	Notes:	
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $110 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(2)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $163 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(3)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $647 thousand.	

(4)	 	Unaudited pro forma net income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the sum of (i) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and (ii) the number of common shares whose proceeds, calculated using the share price at the midpoint of the price range shown on the face of this prospectus, would be necessary to pay the amount by which the conditional $30.0 million cash dividend exceeds our earnings for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010.	

(5)	 	Each ADS represents two Class A common shares.	

 	 	As of February 29/28,	 	As of August 31,	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	 	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Actual	 	Pro Forma(1)	
 	 	(in thousands of $)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	5,704	 	 	$	29,693	 	 	$	50,752	 	 	$	81,495	 	 	$	81,495	 	
Total assets	 	 	8,131	 	 	 	38,553	 	 	 	65,504	 	 	 	97,515	 	 	 	97,515	 	
Deferred revenue	 	 	5,714	 	 	 	18,023	 	 	 	29,408	 	 	 	42,101	 	 	 	42,101	 	
Convertible loan	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	500	 	 	 	500	 	 	 	500	 	
Total liabilities	 	 	7,012	 	 	 	26,198	 	 	 	38,578	 	 	 	56,234	 	 	 	86,234	 	
Net assets	 	 	1,119	 	 	 	12,355	 	 	 	26,926	 	 	 	41,281	 	 	 	11,281	 	
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares	 	 	— 	 	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	— 	 	
Total equity	 	 	1,119	 	 	 	3,355	 	 	 	17,926	 	 	 	32,281	 	 	 	11,281	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	Note:	

(1)	 	Reflects the automatic conversion of all of our Series A preferred shares into 5,000,000 Class B common shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering and the accrual of a $30.0 million cash dividend declared to our shareholders of record as of the dividend declaration date and payable upon the completion of this offering.	
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The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flow data for the periods indicated:

 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	For the Six-Month Period Ended August 31,	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	(in thousands of $)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	$	6,324	 	 	$	23,468	 	 	$	27,175	 	 	 	16,198	 	 	 	30,955	 	
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	 	 	(1,470	)	 	 	(5,116	)	 	 	(5,250	)	 	 	(696	)	 	 	(214	)	
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	 	 	132	 	 	 	5,252	 	 	 	(903	)	 	 	(1,622	)	 	 	(163	)	
 
The following table presents our selected operating data as of the dates and for the periods indicated:

 	 	 	 	As of and for the
	
 	 	As of and for the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	Six Months Ended August 31,	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selected Operating Data:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Student enrollments	 	 	67,996	 	 	 	215,080	 	 	 	382,505	 	 	 	175,638	 	 	 	236,919	 	
Learning centers	 	 	30	 	 	 	73	 	 	 	98	 	 	 	83	 	 	 	108	 	
 
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RISK FACTORS
 
You should consider carefully all of the information in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties described below, before making an investment in our ADSs. Any of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In any such case, the market price of our ADSs could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
 
Risks Related to Our Business
 
If we are not able to continue to attract students to enroll in our courses, our business and prospects will be materially and adversely affected.
 
The success of our business depends primarily on the number of students enrolled in our courses. Therefore, our ability to continue to attract students to enroll in our courses is critical to the continued success and growth of our business. This in turn will depend on several factors, including our ability to develop new programs and enhance existing programs to respond to changes in market trends and student demands, expand our geographic reach, manage our growth while maintaining consistent and high teaching quality, effectively market our programs to a broader base of prospective students, develop additional high-quality educational content and respond effectively to competitive pressures. If we are unable to continue to attract students to enroll in our courses, our revenues may decline, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may not be able to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified teachers, who are critical to the success of our business and effective delivery of our tutoring services to students.
 
Our teachers are critical to maintaining the quality of our services and our reputation. We seek to hire highly qualified teachers who are dedicated to teaching and are able to deliver effective and inspirational instruction. There is a limited pool of teachers with these attributes, and we must provide highly competitive compensation packages to attract and retain such qualified teachers. We must also provide continued training to our teachers to ensure that they stay abreast of changes in student demands, academic standards and other key trends necessary to teach effectively. Although we have not experienced major difficulties in recruiting, training or retaining qualified teachers in the past, we may not always be able to recruit, train and retain enough qualified teachers in the future to keep pace with our growth while maintaining consistent teaching quality in the different markets we serve. A shortage of qualified teachers or a decrease in the quality of our teachers’ classroom performance, whether actual or perceived, or a significant increase in compensation we must pay to retain qualified teachers, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may not be able to improve the content of our existing courses or to develop new courses on a timely basis and in a cost-effective manner.
 
We constantly update and improve the content of our existing courses and develop new courses to meet market demands. Revisions to our existing courses and our newly developed courses may not always be well received by existing or prospective students or their parents. If we cannot respond effectively to changes in market demands, our business may be adversely affected. Even if we are able to develop new courses that are well received, we may not be able to introduce them as quickly as our students may require. If we do not respond adequately to changes in market requirements, our ability to attract and retain students could be impaired and our financial results could suffer.
 
Offering new courses or modifying existing courses may require us to make investments in content development, increase marketing efforts and re-allocate resources away from other uses. We may have limited experience with the content of new courses and may need to modify our systems and strategies to incorporate new courses into our existing course offerings. If we are unable to improve the content of our existing courses,
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offer new courses on a timely basis and in a cost-effective manner, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
 
If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand, our business and operating results may be harmed.
 
We believe that market awareness of our “Xueersi” brand has contributed significantly to the success of our business, and that maintaining and enhancing our brand is critical to maintaining our competitive advantage. If we are unable to successfully promote and market our brand and services, our ability to attract and enroll new students could be adversely impacted and, consequently, our financial performance could suffer. We mainly rely on word-of-mouth referrals to attract prospective students. We also use marketing tools such as the Internet, public lectures, outdoor advertising campaigns and distribution of marketing materials to promote our brand and service offerings. In order to maintain and increase our brand recognition and promote our new service offerings, we have increased our marketing personnel and expenses over the last several years. A number of factors could prevent us from successfully promoting our brand, including student dissatisfaction with our services and the failure of our marketing tools and strategies to attract prospective students. If we are unable to maintain and enhance our brand or utilize marketing tools in a cost-effective manner, our revenues and profitability may suffer.
 
Moreover, we offer a variety of courses to primary, middle and high school students in some of the largest cities in China. As we continue to grow in size, expand our course offerings and extend our geographic reach, it may be more difficult to maintain quality and uniform standards of our services and to protect and promote our brand name.
 
We cannot provide assurance that our sales and marketing efforts will be successful in further promoting our brand in a competitive and cost-effective manner. If we are unable to further enhance our brand recognition and increase awareness of our services, or if we incur excessive sales and marketing expenses, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
 
Our historical financial and operating results, growth rates and profitability may not be indicative of future performance.
 
Although we commenced operations in 2003, our significant growth in terms of employees, operations and revenues has occurred since 2008. Our total net revenues increased from $8.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $69.6 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. Any evaluation of our business and our prospects must be considered in light of the risks and uncertainties encountered by companies at our stage of development. In addition, the after-school tutoring service market in China is still at the early stage of development, which makes it difficult to evaluate our business and future prospects. Furthermore, our results of operations may vary from period to period in response to a variety of other factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions and regulations or government actions pertaining to the private education service sector in China, changes in spending on private education, our ability to control cost of revenues and operating expenses, and non-recurring charges incurred in connection with acquisitions or other extraordinary transactions or under unexpected circumstances. Due to the above factors, we believe that our historical financial and operating results, growth rates and profitability may not be indicative of our future performance and you should not rely on our past results or our historic growth rates as indications of our future performance.
 
If our students’ level of performance falls or satisfaction with our services declines, our annual retention rate may decline and our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation would be adversely affected.
 
The success of our business depends on our ability to deliver a satisfactory learning experience and improved academic results. Our tutoring services may fail to improve a student’s academic performance and a student may perform below expectations even after completing our courses. Additionally, student and parent satisfaction with our services may decline. A student’s learning experience may also suffer if his or her
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relationship with our teachers does not meet expectations. We generally offer refunds for remaining classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course. Although we have not experienced any significant refunds in the past, if an increasing number of students request refunds, our revenues and results of operations may be adversely affected. In addition, if a significant number of students fail to improve their performance after attending our courses or if their learning experiences with us are unsatisfactory, they may decide not to continue to enroll in our courses, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation would be adversely affected.
 
We face significant competition, and if we fail to compete effectively, we may lose our market share and our profitability may be adversely affected.
 
The private education market in China is rapidly evolving, highly fragmented and competitive, and we expect competition to persist and intensify. We face competition in each type of services we offer and in each geographic market in which we operate. Our competitors include New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc., Juren Education, Ambow Education Holding Ltd., China Xueda Education Ltd., and ChinaEdu Corporation.
 
Our student enrollments may decrease due to intense competition. Some of our competitors may have more resources than we do. These competitors may be able to devote greater resources than we can to the development, promotion and sale of their programs, services and products and respond more quickly than we can to changes in student needs, testing materials, admission standards, market trends or new technologies. In addition, some smaller local companies may be able to respond more quickly to changes in student preferences in some of our targeted markets. Moreover, the increasing use of the Internet and advances in Internet- and computer-related technologies, such as web video conferencing and online testing simulators, are eliminating geographic and physical facility-related entry barriers to providing private education services. As a result, smaller local companies may be able to use the Internet to quickly and cost-effectively offer their programs, services and products to a large number of students with less capital expenditure than previously required. Consequently, we may be required to reduce course fees or increase spending in response to competition in order to retain or attract students or pursue new market opportunities, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and profitability. We will also face increased competition as we expand our operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors. If we are unable to maintain our competitive position or otherwise respond to competitive pressure effectively, we may lose our market share and our profitability may be adversely affected.
 
Failure to effectively and efficiently manage the expansion of our service network may materially and adversely affect our ability to capitalize on new business opportunities.
 
Our business has experienced significant growth in recent years. The number of our learning centers increased from 30 as of February 29, 2008 to 109 to date. We plan to continue to expand our operations in different geographic markets in China. Establishing new learning centers poses challenges and requires us to make investments in management, capital expenditures, marketing expenses and other resources. The expansion has resulted, and will continue to result, in substantial demands on our management and staff as well as our financial, operational, technological and other resources. Our planned expansion will also place significant pressure on us to maintain the teaching quality and uniform standards, controls and policies to ensure that our brand does not suffer as a result of any decrease, whether actual or perceived, in the quality of our programs. To manage and support our expansion, we must improve our existing operational, administrative and technological systems and our financial and management controls, and recruit, train and retain additional qualified teachers and management personnel as well as other administrative and marketing personnel. We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively and efficiently manage the growth of our operations, maintain or accelerate our current growth rate, recruit and retain qualified teachers and management personnel, successfully integrate new learning centers into our operations and otherwise effectively manage our growth. Our failure to effectively and efficiently manage our expansion may materially and adversely affect our ability to capitalize on new business opportunities, which in turn may have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
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If we fail to successfully execute our growth strategies, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
 
Our growth strategies include further penetrating our existing markets, extending the geographic scope of our network into attractive markets, expanding personalized premium services and further developing our online course offerings. We may not succeed in executing our growth strategies due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the following:

 	•  	we may fail to identify new cities with sufficient growth potential into which to expand our network;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	it may be difficult to increase the number of learning centers in more developed cities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	we may fail to effectively market our services in new markets or promote new courses in existing markets;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	we may not be able to replicate our successful growth model in Beijing and Shanghai to other geographic markets;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our analysis for selecting suitable new locations may not be accurate and the demand for our services at such new locations may not materialize or increase as rapidly as we expect;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	we may fail to obtain the requisite licenses and permits necessary to open learning centers at our desired locations from local authorities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	we may not be able to continue to enhance our online course offerings, generate profits from online courses, or adapt online courses to changing student needs and technological advances; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	we may fail to achieve the benefits we expect from our expansion.	
 
If we fail to successfully execute our growth strategies, we may not be able to maintain our growth rate and our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected as a result.
 
At present, we derive a majority of our revenues from Beijing and Shanghai. Any event negatively affecting the private education market in Beijing or Shanghai could have a material adverse effect on our overall business and results of operations.
 
Our services in Beijing and Shanghai currently contribute to most of our revenues. We derived approximately 98% and 97% of our total net revenues for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 and the six months ended August 31, 2010, respectively, from these two cities and we expect our services in Beijing and Shanghai to continue to represent the main sources of our income. If either city experiences an event negatively affecting its private education market, such as a serious economic downturn, natural disaster or outbreak of contagious disease, or if either city adopts regulations relating to private education that place additional restrictions or burdens on us, our overall business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
 
If we fail to expand our personalized premium services efficiently and cost-effectively, our business and prospects could be harmed.
 
One of our growth strategies is to further expand our personalized premium services in Beijing and replicate that model in other geographic regions in China. The expansion may entail significant investment of human capital, financial resources and management time and attention as such one-on-one tutoring services impose a different set of requirements on our teachers and many other aspects of our operations than small classes, which currently constitute the main format of our service offerings. If we fail to manage our expansion in personalized premium services efficiently and cost-effectively, it could have an adverse effect on our business and prospects.
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Accidents or injuries suffered by our students or other people on our premises may adversely affect our reputation, subject us to liability and cause us to incur substantial costs.
 
Even though we carry certain liability insurance for our students and their parents, in the event of accidents or injuries or other harm to students or other people on our premises, including those caused by or otherwise arising from the actions of our employees or contractors on our premises, our facilities may be perceived to be unsafe, which may discourage prospective students from attending our classes. We could also face claims alleging that we were negligent, provided inadequate supervision to our employees or contractors and therefore should be held jointly liable for harm caused by them or are otherwise liable for injuries suffered by our students or other people on our premises. For instance, in 2009, a student was injured while attending our classes in a learning center in Beijing and claimed that we were negligent and thus liable for the injury. Although that incident was resolved without any material damages to our reputation or business, there may be similar incidents in the future. A liability claim against us or any of our teachers or independent contractors could adversely affect our reputation, enrollment and revenues. Even if unsuccessful, such a claim could create unfavorable publicity, cause us to incur substantial expenses and divert the time and attention of our management.
 
Failure to adequately and promptly respond to changes in examination systems, admission standards and technologies in China could render our courses and services less attractive to students.
 
Under China’s education system, school admissions rely heavily on examination results. College and high school entrance examinations in most cases are mandatory for graduating seniors in high schools and middle schools in order to gain admission to colleges and high schools, respectively, and therefore, a student’s performance in those examinations is critical to his or her education career and future employment prospects. Although examinations are not required for entering middle schools, many key middle schools administer their own assessment tests to disqualify prospective students. It is therefore common for students to take after-school tutoring classes to improve test performance, and the success of our business to a large extent depends on the continued use of assessment tests by schools and colleges in their admissions. However, such heavy emphasis on examination scores may decline or fall out of favor with educational institutions or education authorities in China. For example, education authorities in Yunnan Province stopped administering provincial-level middle school entrance examinations in 2010. Instead, high schools in Yunnan will start to admit students based on a combination of middle school examination results that have replaced raw scores with letter grades and comprehensive evaluations of students’ aptitude and performance by their middle schools. Yunnan Province also prohibits subject competitions in primary and middle schools. Although we do not offer after-school tutoring services in the Yunnan Province, nor do we expect to do so in the near future, it is possible that the local governments in the areas where we have operations may adopt similar measures. Furthermore, approximately 80 universities in China have been allowed to recruit generally no more than 5% of their students through independently administered examinations and admission procedures in recent years. Candidates for admission to those universities are still required to take college entrance examinations and meet certain threshold requirements for minimum scores, but their college entrance exam scores are no longer the sole determining factor in the admission processes of those universities. If we fail to adjust our services to respond to any such material changes, our business may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, admission and assessment tests in China constantly undergo changes and development in terms of subject and skill focus, question type, examination format and the manner in which tests are administered. We therefore must continually update and improve our course materials and our teaching methods. A failure to track and respond to any such changes in a timely and cost-effective manner could make our courses and services less attractive to students, which may materially and adversely affect our reputation and ability to continue to attract students and in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our new courses and services may compete with our existing offerings.
 
We are constantly developing new courses and services to meet changes in student demands, testing materials, admission standards, market trends and technologies. While some of the courses and services that
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we develop will expand our current offerings and increase student enrollment, others may compete with or render obsolete our existing offerings without increasing our total student enrollment. For example, our online courses might attract students away from our classroom-based courses. If we are unable to increase our total student enrollment and profitability as we expand our course and service offerings, our business and growth may be adversely affected.
 
If we are not able to continually enhance our online courses and services and adapt to rapid changes in technological demands and student needs, we may lose market share and our business could be adversely affected.
 
Widespread use of the Internet for educational purposes is a relatively recent occurrence, and the market for Internet-based courses and services is characterized by rapid technological changes and innovations, as well as unpredictable product life cycles and user preferences. We have limited experience with generating revenues from online courses and services, and their results are largely uncertain. We must be able to adapt quickly to changing student needs and preferences, technological advances and evolving Internet practices in order to compete successfully in online education. Ongoing enhancement of our online offerings and technologies may entail significant expenses and technological risks. We may not be able to use new technologies effectively or may fail to adapt to changes in the online education market on a timely and cost-effective basis. Revenues generated from our online course offerings have been insignificant, accounting for less than 1.5% of our total net revenues since we began offering online courses in 2010. We expect that revenues from our online course offerings will increase. However, if improvements to our online offerings and technologies are delayed, result in systems interruptions or are not aligned with market expectations or preferences, we may not gain market share and our growth prospects could be adversely affected.
 
Our success depends on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and other key personnel and our business may be harmed if we lose their services.
 
Our future success depends heavily upon the continuing services of the members of our senior management team, which includes Bangxin Zhang, our chairman and chief executive officer, Yundong Cao, our director and president, Yachao Liu, our vice president, Yunfeng Bai, our vice president and Joseph Kauffman, our chief financial officer. If any member of our senior management team leaves us and we fail to effectively manage a transition to new personnel, or if we fail to attract and retain qualified and experienced professionals on acceptable terms, our business, financial conditions and results of operations could be adversely affected. Competition for experienced management personnel in the education industry is intense, and we may not be able to retain the services of our senior executives or key personnel, or to attract and retain high quality senior executives or key personnel in the future.
 
Our success also depends on our having highly trained financial, technical, human resource, sales and marketing staff, management personnel and qualified teachers for local markets. We will need to continue to hire additional personnel as our business grows. A shortage in the supply of personnel with requisite skills or our failure to recruit them could impede our ability to increase revenues from our existing courses and services, to launch new course and service offerings and to expand our operations, and would have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.
 
Failure to control rental costs, obtain leases at desired locations at reasonable prices or protect our leasehold interests could materially and adversely affect our business.
 
All of our offices and service and learning centers are presently located on leased premises. At the end of each lease term, which generally ranges from two to five years, we must negotiate an extension of the lease and if we are not able to negotiate an extension on terms acceptable to us, we will be forced to move to a different location, or the rent may increase significantly. This could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our profitability. All of our leases are subject to renewal at market prices, which could result in a substantial rent increase at each time of renewal. We compete with many other businesses for sites in certain highly desirable locations and some landlords may have entered into long-term leases with our competitors for prime locations. As a result, we may not be able to obtain new leases at desirable locations or renew our existing
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leases on acceptable terms or at all, which could adversely affect our business. In addition, we have not been able to receive from our lessors copies of title certificates or proof of authorization to lease the properties to us for five of our leased properties of approximately 26,000 square feet in total involving aggregate annual rentals of approximately RMB2.3 million. Operations on these five leased properties contributed approximately 3.2% and 2.8% of our total net revenues for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 and the six months ended August 31, 2010, respectively. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any actions, claims or investigations threatened against us or our lessors with respect to the defects in our leasehold interests. However, if any of our leases are terminated as a result of challenges by third parties or governmental authorities for lack of title certificates or proof of authorization to lease, we do not expect to be subject to any fines or penalties but we may be forced to relocate the affected learning centers and incur additional expenses relating to such relocation. If we fail to find suitable replacement sites in a timely manner or on terms acceptable to us, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. We were aware of the defects when we entered into those leases. In many cases, we entered into leases upon promises from the lessors that relevant certificates and authorizations would be delivered at a later time, which did not eventually materialize. Our business and legal teams followed an internal guideline to identify and assess risks in connection with leasing the properties, and a final business decision was made after our analysis of the likely impact of the defects on the leasehold interests and the value of the properties to our expansion plan. However, there is no assurance that our decision would always lead to the favorable outcome we expected to achieve.
 
Capacity constraints of our teaching facilities could cause us to lose students to our competitors.
 
The teaching facilities of our physical network are limited in size and number of classrooms. We may not be able to admit all students who would like to enroll in our courses due to the capacity constraints of our teaching facilities. This would deprive us of the opportunity to serve them and to potentially develop a long-term relationship with them for continued services. If we fail to expand our physical capacity as quickly as the demand for our classroom-based services grows, we could lose potential students to our competitors, and our results of operations and business prospects could suffer as a result.
 
If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, our brand and business may suffer.
 
We consider our copyrights, trademarks, trade names and Internet domain names invaluable to our ability to continue to develop and enhance our brand recognition. Unauthorized use of our copyrights, trademarks, trade names and domain names may damage our reputation and brand. Our major brand names and logos are registered trademarks in China. Our proprietary curricula and course materials are protected by copyrights. However, preventing copyright, trademark and trade name infringement or misuse could be difficult, costly and time-consuming, particularly in China. The measures we take to protect our copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights are currently based upon a combination of trademark and copyright laws in China and may not be adequate to prevent unauthorized uses. Furthermore, application of laws governing intellectual property rights in China is uncertain and evolving, and could involve substantial risks to us. There had been several incidents in the past where third parties used our brand “Xueersi” without our authorization and we had to resort to litigation to protect our intellectual property rights. These proceedings were all resolved in our favor and our brand and business were not materially harmed. However, if we are unable to adequately protect our trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights in the future, we may lose these rights, our brand name may be harmed, and our business may suffer materially. Furthermore, our management’s attention may be diverted by violations of our intellectual property rights, and we may be required to enter into costly litigation to protect our proprietary rights against any infringement or violation.
 
We may encounter disputes from time to time relating to our use of the intellectual property of third parties.
 
We cannot assure you that our course materials, online platform or other intellectual property developed or used by us do not or will not infringe upon valid copyrights or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. We may encounter disputes from time to time over rights and obligations concerning intellectual
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property, and we may not prevail in those disputes. Our teachers may, against our policies, use third-party copyrighted materials without proper authorization in our classes or our students may post unauthorized third-party content on our websites. We may incur liability for unauthorized duplication or distribution of materials posted on our websites or used in our classes. Third parties may bring claims against us alleging our infringement of their intellectual property rights. Any such intellectual property infringement claim could result in costly litigation and divert our management attention and resources.
 
If we fail to integrate or negotiate successfully any future acquisitions, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
 
We may acquire complementary businesses in the future. If we are unable to successfully integrate the acquired businesses, it could harm our business and operating results. In addition, we may revalue or write down the value of goodwill and other intangible assets in connection with future acquisitions which would harm our operating results. For example, we recognized an impairment loss on goodwill of $1.2 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 in connection with some of our acquisitions. In order to remain competitive or to expand our business, we may find it necessary or desirable to acquire other businesses and we may be unable to identify appropriate acquisition targets. If we identify an appropriate acquisition target, we may not be able to negotiate the terms of the acquisition successfully, finance the acquisition or integrate the acquired businesses into our existing business and operations. Furthermore, completing a potential acquisition and integrating an acquired business may strain our resources and require significant management time.
 
Seasonal and other fluctuations in our results of operations could adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs.
 
Our revenues and operating results may fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in student enrollments. The fluctuations may result in volatility or have an adverse effect on the market price of the ADSs. In addition, comparisons of our operating results between different periods within a single financial year, or between the same periods in different financial years, may not be meaningful and should not be relied upon as good indicators of our performance.
 
We have limited liability insurance coverage and do not carry business disruption insurance.
 
We have limited liability insurance coverage for our students and their parents in our major learning centers. A successful liability claim against us due to injuries suffered by our students or other people on our premises could materially and adversely affect our financial conditions, results of operations and reputation. Even if unsuccessful, such a claim could cause adverse publicity to us, require substantial cost to defend and divert the time and attention of our management. In addition, we do not have any business disruption insurance. Any business disruption event could result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our resources.
 
System disruptions to our websites or computer systems or a leak of student data could damage our reputation and limit our ability to retain students and increase student enrollment.
 
The performance and reliability of our websites and computer systems is critical to our reputation and ability to retain students and increase student enrollment. Any system error or failure, or a sudden and significant increase in online traffic, could disrupt or slow access to our websites. We cannot assure you that we will be able to expand our online infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective manner to meet the increasing demands of our students and their parents. In addition, our computer systems store and process important information including, without limitation, class schedules, registration information and student data and could be vulnerable to interruptions or malfunctions due to events beyond our control, such as natural disasters and technology failures. For instance, we have in the past experienced interruptions to our operations due to temporary computer system failures. Although we have a daily backup system that runs on different servers for our operating data, we may still lose important student data or suffer disruption to our operations if there is a failure of the database system or the backup system. Moreover, we would suffer economic and reputational damages if a technical failure of our systems causes a leak of student data, including
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identification or contact information, although there has not been any such leak in the past. Any disruption to our computer systems could therefore have a material adverse effect on our on-site operations and ability to retain students and increase student enrollments.
 
We face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
 
Our business could be materially and adversely affected by natural disasters or widespread epidemics. On May 12, 2008 and April 14, 2010, severe earthquakes affected parts of Sichuan province in southeastern China and parts of Qinghai province in western China, respectively, resulting in significant numbers of casualties and property damages. While we did not suffer any loss or experience any significant increase in costs as a result of the earthquakes, if a similar disaster were to occur in the future affecting any of the cities in which we have major operations, our business could be materially and adversely affected. In April 2009, a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, commonly known as “swine flu,” was first discovered in North America and quickly spread to other parts of the world, including China. In early June 2009, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a pandemic. Any outbreak of similar epidemics in China, including severe acute respiratory syndrome, could require temporary closure of our learning centers and have a material and adverse effect on our business operations.
 
In the course of preparing our consolidated financial statements, a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting was identified. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.
 
Our reporting obligations as a public company will place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. Prior to this offering, we have been a private company and have had limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal control over financial reporting. We and our independent registered public accounting firm, in connection with the preparation and external audit of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. The material weakness identified related to insufficient accounting personnel with appropriate U.S. GAAP knowledge. We have not undertaken a comprehensive assessment and our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. Had we performed a formal assessment of our internal control over financial reporting or had our independent registered public accounting firm performed an audit of our internal control over financial reporting, additional material weakness and deficiencies may have been identified. A “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
 
We have taken measures and plan to continue to take measures to remedy these deficiencies. However, the implementation of these measures may not fully address the control deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. Our failure to address any control deficiency could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, effective internal control over financial reporting is important to prevent fraud. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs, may be materially and adversely affected.
 
Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we include a report from management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2012. In addition, beginning at the same time, our independent registered public accounting firm must report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management and our independent registered public accounting firm may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. This could adversely impact the market price of
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our ADSs due to a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our reporting processes. We will need to incur significant costs and use significant management and other resources in order to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
 
Implementation of the new labor laws in China may adversely affect our business operations.
 
On June 29, 2007, the Chinese government promulgated a new labor contract law which became effective on January 1, 2008, and subsequently issued the implementation rules of the new labor contract law. Pursuant to the new law, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, fixing compensation levels, setting lengths of employees’ probation periods and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. The new law and the related implementation rules impose greater liabilities on employers and may significantly increase the costs to an employer if it decides to reduce its workforce. In the event we decide to significantly reduce our workforce, the new labor contract law could adversely affect our ability to downsize based on business needs or to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner, which in turn may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company under US tax law, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of our ADSs.
 
Depending upon the value of our assets based on the market value of our common shares and ADSs and the nature of our assets and income over time, we could be classified as a passive foreign investment company or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Based on our current income and assets and projections as to the value of our common shares and ADSs pursuant to this offering, we do not expect to be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year. While we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC for the current taxable year, fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs or common shares may cause us to become a PFIC for the current or any subsequent taxable year. We will make a separate determination for each taxable year as to whether we are a PFIC (after the close of each taxable year) and disclose such determination in our annual reports on Form 20-F to be filed with the SEC.
 
We will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of the value of our assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, not only because we control their management decisions but also because we are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits associated with these entities, and, as a result, we consolidate these entities’ operating results in our consolidated U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries for United States federal income tax purposes, we would likely be treated as a PFIC for our taxable year ending on February 28, 2011 and any subsequent taxable year. Because of the uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules and because PFIC status is a factual determination made annually after the close of each taxable year on the basis of the composition of our income and the value of our active versus passive assets, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the taxable year ending on February 28, 2011 or any future taxable year. The overall level of our passive assets will also be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend our liquid assets and the cash raised in this offering. Under circumstances where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of becoming classified as a PFIC may substantially increase.
 
If we were to be or become classified as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—General”) may be subject to reporting requirements and may incur significantly increased United States income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or common shares and on the receipt of distributions on the ADSs or common shares to the extent such gain or distribution is treated as an “excess distribution” under the United States federal income tax rules. Further, if we were a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder held our ADSs or common shares, we generally would continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder held our ADSs or common shares. You are urged to consult your tax advisor concerning the
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United States federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding, and disposing of ADSs or common shares if we are or become classified as a PFIC. For more information see “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—PFIC Considerations.”
 
We have granted and will continue to grant restricted shares, share options and other share-based awards in the future, which may materially reduce our net income.
 
We adopted a share incentive plan in 2010 that permits granting of options to purchase our Class A common shares, restricted shares and restricted share units under the plan. The maximum aggregate number of Class A common shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under our share incentive plan is 18,750,000. As of the date of this prospectus, we have granted 5,419,500 restricted shares under our share incentive plan to our employees. As a result of these grants and potential future grants under the plan, we have incurred and will continue to incur share-based compensation expenses. We had share-based compensation expenses of $0.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. As of August 31, 2010, the unrecognized compensation expenses related to the non-vested restricted shares amounted to $18.3 million, which will be recognized over vesting periods up to 4 years. Expenses associated with share-based compensation awards granted under our share incentive plan may materially reduce our future net income. However, if we limit the size of grants under our share incentive plan to minimize share-based compensation expenses, we may not be able to attract or retain key personnel.
 
Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
 
If the PRC government determines that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our business in China are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties.
 
PRC laws and regulations currently require any foreign entity that invests in the education business in China to be an educational institution with relevant experience in providing education services outside China. Our Cayman Islands holding company is not an educational institution and does not provide education services. We conduct our education business in China through contractual arrangements with Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries, schools and shareholders. Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network are directly owned by four of our directors or officers who are citizens of the PRC. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we rely on a series of contractual arrangements entered into among TAL Beijing, Xueersi Network, Xueersi Education and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries and schools to conduct most of our tutoring services in China. We have been and are expected to continue to be dependent on our affiliated entities in China to operate our education business until we qualify for direct ownership of educational businesses in China. Pursuant to our contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities, we, through our wholly owned subsidiaries in China, provide exclusive teaching support, technical service support and other services to our affiliated entities in exchange for payments from them. In addition, we have entered into agreements with Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, and each of their respective shareholders, which provide us with the ability to effectively control Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and their respective existing and future subsidiaries and schools.
 
If the corporate structure and contractual arrangements through which we conduct our business in China are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or if we fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, we would be subject to potential actions by the relevant PRC regulatory authorities with broad discretions, which actions could include:

 	•  	revoking the business and operating licenses of our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	restricting or prohibiting related party transactions between our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	imposing fines or other requirements with which we or our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities may find difficult or impossible to comply;	

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 	•  	requiring us or our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	restricting or prohibiting the use of any proceeds from our additional public offering to finance our business and operations in China.	
 
The imposition of any of these penalties could result in a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
 
We rely on contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities for our China operations, which may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership.
 
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities to operate our education business. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Our Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Affiliated Entities.” These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over these affiliated entities as direct ownership. If we had direct ownership of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of Xueersi Network or Xueersi Education, which in turn could effect changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by our affiliated entities and their respective shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to exercise control over our affiliated entities. In addition, we may not be able to renew these contracts with Xueersi Network, Xueersi Education and their respective subsidiaries or shareholders if the beneficial owners of Xueersi Network or Xueersi Education do not act in the best interests of our company when conflicts of interest arise. Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities may not be as effective in ensuring our control over our China operations as direct ownership would be.
 
Any failure by our affiliated entities or their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
 
If Xueersi Network, Xueersi Education or any of their respective subsidiaries or schools or any of their respective shareholders fails to perform its obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce our rights under the contracts, and rely on legal remedies under the PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief and claiming damages, which may not be effective. For example, if the shareholders of Xueersi Network or Xueersi Education were to refuse to transfer their equity interest in Xueersi Network or Xueersi Education to us or our designee when we exercise the call option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations.
 
All the material agreements under our contractual arrangements are governed by the PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes under the agreements through arbitration in Beijing. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with the PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. Under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would incur additional expenses and delay. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over our affiliated entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.
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The beneficial owners of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.
 
The four beneficial owners of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network are also beneficial owners, directors or officers of TAL Group. Among them, Mr. Bangxin Zhang and Mr. Yundong Cao are directors of TAL Group and also directors of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network. Currently, these four individuals beneficially own an aggregate of 76% of the outstanding share capital of TAL Group on an as-converted basis. Upon the completion of this offering, these four shareholders will beneficially own an aggregate of 63.8% of the outstanding share capital of TAL Group, representing 74.6% of our total voting power, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters. As such, the beneficial owners of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network may have potential conflicts of interest with us. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, any or all of these individuals will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor. In addition, these individuals may breach, or cause our affiliated entities to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and our affiliated entities. Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these individuals and our company. We rely on these individuals to abide by the laws of the Cayman Islands and China, which provide that directors owe a fiduciary duty to the company that requires them to act in good faith and in the best interests of the company and not to use their positions for personal gains. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and the beneficial owners of Xueersi Network or Xueersi Education, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
 
Our affiliated entities may be subject to significant limitations on their ability to operate private schools or make payments to related parties, or otherwise be materially and adversely affected by changes in PRC laws governing private education providers.
 
The principal regulations governing private education in China are The Law for Promoting Private Education (2003) and The Implementation Rules for The Law for Promoting Private Education (2004). Under these regulations, a private school may elect to be a school that does not require reasonable returns or a school that requires reasonable returns. At the end of each fiscal year, every private school is required to allocate a certain amount to its development fund for the construction or maintenance of the school or procurement or upgrade of educational equipment. In the case of a private school that requires reasonable returns, this amount shall be no less than 25% of annual net balance of the school, while in the case of a private school that does not require reasonable returns, this amount shall be equivalent to no less than 25% of the annual increase in the net assets of the school, if any. A private school that requires reasonable returns must publicly disclose such election and additional information required under the regulations. A private school shall consider factors such as the school’s tuition, ratio of the funds used for education-related activities to the course fees collected, admission standards and educational quality when determining the percentage of the school’s net income that would be distributed to the investors as reasonable returns. However, none of the current PRC laws and regulations provides a formula or guidelines for determining “reasonable returns.” In addition, none of the current PRC laws and regulations sets forth clear requirements or restrictions on a private school’s ability to operate its education business based on such school’s status as a school that requires reasonable returns or a school that does not require reasonable returns.
 
Our schools are registered as schools that require reasonable returns in some cities and as schools that do not require reasonable returns in others. Unlike typical schools in China’s K-12 system which grant diplomas to students upon graduation, we provide after-school tutoring services and do not grant any diploma or certification to our students. However, the current PRC laws and regulations governing private education may be amended or replaced by new laws and regulations that (i) impose significant limitations on the ability of our schools to operate their business, charge course fees or make payments to related parties for services, (ii) specify the formula for calculating “reasonable returns,” or (iii) change the preferential tax treatment policies applicable to private schools. We cannot predict the timing and effects of any such amendments or new laws and regulations. Changes in PRC laws and regulations governing private education could materially and adversely affect our business prospects and results of operations.
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Contractual arrangements our subsidiaries have entered into with our affiliated entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and a finding that we or our affiliated entities owe additional taxes could substantially reduce our consolidated net income and the value of your investment.
 
Under PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities within ten years after the taxable year when the transactions are conducted. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements between our wholly owned subsidiaries in China and our affiliated entities do not represent an arm’s-length price and consequently adjust our affiliated entities’ income in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of expense deductions recorded by our affiliated entities, which could in turn increase their tax liabilities. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties to our affiliated entities for unpaid taxes. Our consolidated net income may be materially and adversely affected if our affiliated entities’ tax liabilities increase or if they are subject to late payment fees or other penalties.
 
If any of our PRC subsidiaries, affiliated entities and their subsidiaries becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding, we may lose the ability to use and enjoy certain important assets, which could reduce the size of our operations and materially and adversely affect our business, ability to generate revenue and the market price of our ADSs.
 
We currently conduct our operations in China through contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities. As part of these arrangements, our affiliated entities hold operating permits and licenses and some of the assets that are important to the operation of our business. If any of these entities goes bankrupt and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of our affiliated entities undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its shareholders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, our ability to generate revenue and the market price of our ADSs.
 
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
 
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions in a civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always consistent, and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involve uncertainties, which may limit the available legal protections. In addition, the PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing or enforcing statutory rules and contractual terms, and it may be more difficult to predict the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we may enjoy in the PRC than under some more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our decisions on the measures and actions to be taken to fully comply therewith and may affect our ability to enforce our contractual or tort rights. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited legal actions or threats in an attempt to extract payments or benefits from us. Such uncertainties may therefore increase our operating expenses and costs, and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
 
Uncertainties with respect to PRC regulatory restrictions on after-school services could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
In 2009, the Ministry of Education, together with a few other PRC government agencies, issued implementation rules on administration of education-related fee collection, which provide, among other things,
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that schools that are part of the compulsory education system are not allowed to charge students additional fees for any type of after-school tutoring classes, and that public schools and their teachers, whether or not in cooperation with private schools, are prohibited from offering any type of after-school tutoring or training classes for a fee outside the school. Private schools, which are not part of the compulsory education system, generally are permitted to offer after-school tutoring services pursuant to their private school operating permits issued by the relevant PRC governmental authorities pursuant to the Law for Promoting Private Education and implementation rules promulgated thereunder. However, several provincial government agencies issued notices or rules applicable in their respective provinces expressly prohibiting even private schools from offering after-school tutoring classes to primary and secondary school students. Among the areas where we offer after-school tutoring services, local governments in Shanghai and Tianjin issued notices in 2004 and 2005, respectively, prohibiting private schools from offering after-school tutoring services to primary and secondary school students. Nevertheless, we are not aware of any instances in Shanghai or Tianjin where the governmental authorities took actions enforcing the aforementioned notices; nor have we received any notices, warnings or inquiries from these governmental authorities with respect to our tutoring services. Net revenues attributable to tutoring services in Shanghai and Tianjin accounted for less than 10% of our total net revenues for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 and the six months ended August 31, 2010. The aforementioned notices do not provide any monetary penalties for violations and thus we are not able to quantify the penalties that we may be subject to if we are deemed not to be in compliance with these notices. We are not aware of any imminent risks in connection with the aforementioned notices. However, since PRC regulatory authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing rules and regulations and that regulatory enforcements can be inconsistent, we cannot assure you that we will not in the future be subject to the above mentioned regulations, fined or otherwise penalized by government authorities for offering such classes, in which case our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected.
 
We are required to obtain various operating licenses and permits and to make registrations and filings for our after-school tutoring services in China; failure to comply with these requirements may materially adversely affect our business operations.
 
We are required to obtain and maintain various licenses and permits and fulfill registration and filing requirements in order to conduct and operate our after-school tutoring business. For instance, to establish and operate a school to provide after-school tutoring services, we are required to obtain a private school operating permit and to make necessary filings for each learning center with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Civil Affairs or their local bureaus. As of the date of this prospectus, 26 of our 109 centers in operation may be subject to fines or other penalties due to their failure to obtain the requisite operating permits from, or make requisite filings with, the relevant governmental authorities. These 26 learning centers in the aggregate accounted for 15.3% of our total net revenues for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. We were unable to obtain certain requisite permits or make certain filings in some districts in Beijing because the local authorities discontinued granting permits or accepting filings for administrative reasons for a period of time. Some of these local authorities have recently begun to accept applications and filings, and we are in the process of preparing filings and applying for permits for these learning centers and expect to complete and obtain most filings and permits in the near future. In a few other cases, we were not able to obtain certain permits because we have not yet met all the detailed requirements set forth by the local authorities for granting the permits, and we are taking steps to meet these requirements. We intend to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations in establishing new learning centers. Our business and legal teams are required to follow an internal guideline to obtain all requisite permits and make necessary filings on a timely basis for our new learning centers. However, there is no assurance that our efforts will result in full compliance given the significant amount of discretion the PRC authorities have in interpreting, implementing or enforcing rules and regulations and due to other factors beyond our control. Although we have not been subject to any material fines or other penalties in relation to any non-compliance of licensing requirements in the past, if we fail to cure any non-compliance in a timely manner, we may be subject to fines, confiscation of the gains derived from our noncompliant operations or the suspension of our noncompliant operations, which may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
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If the relevant PRC regulatory authorities subsequently determine that personalized premium services must be operated through registered schools or non-foreign-invested PRC companies, our personalized premium services business may be exposed to increased risks associated with the contractual arrangements.
 
We currently offer our personalized premium tutoring services in Beijing through Huanqiu Zhikang, our wholly owned subsidiary, which is a foreign-invested company under PRC laws and regulations. Huanqiu Zhikang’s sole business is offering personalized premium tutoring services in Beijing, which contributed less than 1% of our total net revenues for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. In Shanghai, our personalized premium tutoring services are offered through our affiliated schools pursuant to the local legal requirements. We offer the personalized premium tutoring services in Beijing through Huanqiu Zhikang, as opposed to through our PRC affiliated entities, primarily because we believe that one-on-one tutoring services fall within the scope of “for-profit training activities” and are not “educational activities” under the jurisdiction of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, based on telephone inquiries we and our PRC counsel made to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, which is the local bureau of the Ministry of Education in Beijing. In addition, Huanqiu Zhikang has obtained a business license from Beijing Administration of Industry and Commerce, expressly permitting Huanqiu Zhikang to conduct “educational consulting services,” which we believe covers our personalized premium services in Beijing. We also believe that providing personalized premium services through Huanqiu Zhikang, a wholly owned subsidiary, enhances our effective control over such business and improves management efficiency. To the extent we view that the benefits resulting from our current structure is greater than the risks associated with the legal uncertainties, we intend to continue to offer personalized premium services through Huanqiu Zhikang in Beijing in our future expansion plan for these services.
 
However, the differences between “educational activities,” on the one hand, and “for-profit training activities” and “educational consulting services,” on the other hand, remain unclear under the PRC laws and regulations. The Law for Promoting Private Education provides that “educational activities,” which are required to be conducted through schools or educational institutions, shall be regulated by the Ministry of Education whereas “for-profit training activities” shall be regulated by the Administration of Industry and Commerce in accordance with separate regulations to be issued by the State Council. To date, the State Council has not promulgated any regulations with respect to “for-profit training activities” and in practice, regulators in different local jurisdictions may have different views and administrative policies on one-on-one tutoring activities. Therefore, we cannot be certain that the relevant government authorities will reach the same conclusion in the future as we have regarding one-on-one personalized premium tutoring services.
 
If the relevant PRC regulatory authorities subsequently determine that personalized premium services must be operated through registered schools or non-foreign-invested PRC companies, we may be required to restructure our operations to offer personalized premium services through our affiliated schools, which may expose our personalized premium services business to increased risks associated with the contractual arrangements with affiliated entities. See “—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.” If we fail to cure our non-compliance in a timely manner, we may be subject to fines of up to RMB100,000, suspension of such operations or other penalties, which may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
 
Adverse changes in political and economic policies of the PRC government could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could reduce the demand for our products and services and materially and adversely affect our competitive position.
 
All of our business operations are conducted in China and all of our sales are made in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects are affected significantly by economic, political and legal developments in China. The economy in China differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including:

 	•  	degree of government involvement;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	level of development;	

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 	•  	rate of economic growth;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	control of foreign exchange rates and currency conversion;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	access to financing; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	allocation of resources.	
 
Although China has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy since the 1970s, the PRC government continues to exercise significant control over China’s economy through resource allocation, foreign exchange control, monetary policies and administrative regulations of certain industries and entities. In recent years, the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the reliance on market forces to promote economic reform, reduce state ownership of productive assets and establish corporate governance structures in business enterprises. Nevertheless, a substantial portion of the productive assets in China are still owned by the PRC government. The continued control of these assets and other aspects of the national economy by the government could materially and adversely affect our business.
 
While the Chinese economy has grown significantly in the past 30 years, the growth has been uneven geographically among various sectors of the economy, and during different periods. We cannot assure you that the Chinese economy will continue to grow, or that if there is growth, such growth will be steady and uniform, or that if there is a slowdown, such slowdown will not have a negative effect on our business.
 
We may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could limit our ability to pay dividends to holders of our ADSs and common shares.
 
We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our business through our operating subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities, which are limited liability companies established in China. We may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our operating expenses. The payment of dividends by entities organized in China is subject to limitations. In particular, regulations in China currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. PRC companies are also required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to their general reserves until the accumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. In addition, PRC companies may allocate a portion of their after-tax profit to their staff welfare and bonus fund at the discretion of their boards of directors. Our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs historically have not allocated any of their after-tax profits to staff welfare and bonus funds, since there is no legal requirement to do so, but they may nevertheless decide to set aside such funds in the future. There is no maximum amount of after-tax profit that a company may contribute to such funds. Moreover, each of our affiliated schools is required to allocate certain amount of profits to its development fund for the construction or maintenance of school facilities or procurement or upgrade of educational equipment at the end of each fiscal year. See “Regulation—Regulation on Private Education—The Law for Promoting Private Education (2003) and the Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education (2004)” for a discussion on the requirements for private schools to make allocations to school development funds. Any direct or indirect limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to distribute dividends and other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to make investments or acquisitions at the holding company level, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
 
PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may limit the use of the proceeds we receive from this offering for our expansion or operations.
 
In utilizing the proceeds we receive from this offering in the manner described in “Use of Proceeds,” as an offshore holding company with PRC subsidiaries, we may (i) make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, (ii) establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, (iii) make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or our VIEs, or (iv) acquire offshore entities with
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business operations in China in an offshore transaction. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:

 	•  	capital contributions to our subsidiaries in China, whether existing ones or newly established ones, must be approved by the PRC Ministry of Commerce or its local bureaus;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	loans by us to our subsidiaries in China, each of which is a foreign-invested enterprise, to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its local bureaus;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	loans by us to our VIEs and their respective subsidiaries, which are domestic PRC entities, must be approved by the National Development and Reform Commission and must also be registered with SAFE or its local bureaus.	
 
In addition, on August 29, 2008, SAFE promulgated Circular 142, a notice regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested company of its capital contribution in foreign currency into Renminbi. It requires that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the relevant government authority and may not be used to make equity investments in China, unless specifically provided otherwise. Moreover, the approved use of such Renminbi funds may not be changed without approval from SAFE. Renminbi funds converted from foreign exchange may not be used to repay loans in Renminbi if the proceeds of such loans have not yet been used. Any violation of Circular 142 may result in severe penalties, including substantial fines. We expect that if we convert the net proceeds from this offering into Renminbi pursuant to Circular 142, our use of Renminbi funds will be for purposes within the approved business scope of our PRC subsidiaries. However, we may not be able to use such Renminbi funds to make equity investments in the PRC through our PRC subsidiaries.
 
We expect that the PRC regulations of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may continue to limit our use of proceeds of this offering. There are no costs associated with registering loans or capital contributions with relevant PRC governmental authorities, other than nominal processing charges. Under PRC laws and regulations, the PRC governmental authorities are required to process such approvals or registrations or deny our application within 90 days. The actual time taken, however, may be longer due to administrative delay. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to our future plans to use the U.S. dollar proceeds we receive from this offering for our expansion and operations in China. If we fail to receive such registrations or approvals, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and ability to fund and expand our business.
 
PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners to personal liability and limit our ability to acquire PRC companies or to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.
 
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange issued Circular 75, requiring PRC residents, including both legal persons and natural persons, to register with the relevant local branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange before establishing or controlling any company outside of China, referred to as an “offshore special purpose company,” for the purpose of raising funds from overseas to acquire assets of, or equity interest in, PRC companies. In addition, any PRC resident that is the beneficial owner of an offshore special purpose company is required to amend his or her registration with the local branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, with respect to that offshore special purpose company in connection with any increase or decrease in its capital, transfer of shares, merger, division, equity investment or creation of any security interest over any assets located in China. Any failure to comply with the above registration requirements could result in PRC subsidiaries being prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to their offshore parent companies, offshore parent companies being restricted in their ability to contribute additional capital into their PRC subsidiaries, and other liabilities under PRC laws for evasion of foreign exchange restrictions.
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We believe that all of our shareholders who are PRC citizens or residents have completed their required registrations with SAFE, or are otherwise in the process of registering with SAFE. However, we may not at all times be fully aware or informed of the identities of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC citizens or residents, and we may not always be able to compel our beneficial owners to comply with Circular 75; nor can we ensure you that their registrations, if they choose to apply, will be successful. The failure or inability of our PRC resident beneficial owners to make any required registrations or comply with these requirements may subject such beneficial owners to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into or provide loans (including using the proceeds from this offering) to our China operations, limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to pay dividends or otherwise distribute profits to us, or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.
 
Any requirement to obtain prior approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, could delay this offering and a failure to obtain this approval, if required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our ADSs.
 
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, namely, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC, and SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rule, which became effective on September 8, 2006. The M&A Rule purports to require, among other things, offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for the purpose of acquiring PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. While the application of the M&A Rule remains unclear, we believe, based on the advice of our PRC counsel, Tian Yuan Law Firm, that CSRC approval is not required in the context of this offering as we are not a special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of acquiring domestic companies that are controlled by PRC individual shareholders, as we acquired contractual control of, rather than equity interest in, our domestic affiliated entities. However, we cannot assure you that the relevant PRC government agency, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel. If the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agency subsequently determines that we need to obtain the CSRC’s approval for this offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. In such event, these regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the PRC, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us to halt this offering before settlement and delivery of the ADSs offered by this prospectus.
 
The discontinuation of any of the preferential tax treatments currently available to us in China could adversely affect our overall results of operations.
 
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, the statutory enterprise income tax rate is 25%, except where a special preferential rate applies.
 
Our affiliated entity, Xueersi Education, was qualified as a “High and New Technology Enterprise,” under the EIT Law effective January 1, 2008 and therefore was qualified for a preferential tax rate of 15%. In addition, since Xueersi Education is located in a high and new technology industrial zone in Beijing and qualified as a High and New Technology Enterprise, it was entitled to a three-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2006 to 2008 and a further tax reduction to a rate of 7.5% from calendar year 2009 to 2011. Our wholly owned subsidiary, TAL Beijing, was qualified as a “Newly Established Software Enterprise” under the EIT Law and therefore entitled to a two-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2009 to 2010 and a further tax reduction to 50% of the applicable rate from calendar year 2011 to 2013. Our affiliated entities, Xueersi Network and Beijing Haidian District Xueersi Training School, were entitled to a one-year tax exemption in calendar year 2007 as newly established companies in that year.
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On April 21, 2010, the State Administration of Taxation issued Circular 157, Further Clarification on Implementation of Preferential EIT Rate during Transition Periods , or Circular 157. Circular 157 seeks to provide additional guidance on the interaction of certain preferential tax rates under the transitional rules of the EIT Law. Prior to Circular 157, we interpreted the law to mean that if a “high and new technology enterprise strongly supported by the state” or “High and New Technology Enterprise” was in a tax holiday period that provides for “2-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” or “5-year exemption plus 5-year half rate” or other tax exemptions and reductions, where it was entitled to a 50% reduction in the tax rate and was also entitled to a 15% rate of tax due to its High and New Technology Enterprise status under the EIT Law, then it was entitled to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Circular 157 appears to have the effect that such an entity is entitled to pay tax at the lower of 15% and 50% of the standard PRC tax rate, which is currently 25%. It is unclear whether Circular 157 would apply retrospectively but we understand that the State Administration of Taxation has recently taken the position that Circular 157 applies only to tax years commencing from January 1, 2010.
 
Based on the interpretation of Circular 157 from the relevant local tax authority, we believe that entities that are qualified for “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” tax holiday as High and New Technology Enterprises and are registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology Industrial Zone of Beijing will continue to pay income tax at a rate of 7.5%. Since Xueersi Education enjoys “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” and is a High and New Technology Enterprise registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology Industrial Zone of Beijing, we believe that Xueersi Education will continue to pay income tax at the rate of 7.5%. We cannot assure you, however, that the tax authorities will not in the future change their position on our preferential tax treatments. The discontinuation of our preferential tax treatments may materially increase our future tax liabilities.
 
Under the EIT Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of China. Such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
 
Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, although the dividends paid to one resident enterprise from another may qualify as “tax-exempt income.” The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. A circular issued by the State Administration of Taxation on April 22, 2009 provides that a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group will be classified as a “resident enterprise” with its “de facto management body” located within China if all of the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the senior management and core management departments in charge of its daily operations function are mainly in the PRC; (ii) its financial and human resources decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, and minutes and files of its board and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) at least half of the enterprise’s directors with voting right or senior management reside in the PRC.
 
We do not believe that either TAL Group or our Hong Kong subsidiary, Xueersi Hong Kong, meets all of the conditions above. Each of TAL Group and Xueersi Hong Kong is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As holding companies, these two entities’ key assets and records, including resolutions of its board of directors and resolutions of its shareholders, are located and maintained outside of the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a similar corporate structure as ours ever having been deemed to be PRC “resident enterprises” by the PRC tax authorities. Therefore, we believe that neither TAL Group nor Xueersi Hong Kong should be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes. However, as the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities, there are uncertainties and risks associated with this issue. If the PRC tax authorities determine that TAL Group and Xueersi Hong Kong are “resident enterprises” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income, as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Second,
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although under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividend income between qualified resident enterprises is a “tax-exempt income,” we cannot guarantee that dividends paid to TAL Group from our PRC subsidiaries through Xueersi Hong Kong would qualify as “tax-exempt income” and will not be subject to withholding tax, as the PRC foreign exchange control authorities, which enforce the withholding tax, have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as “resident enterprises” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Finally, the new “resident enterprise” classification could result in a situation in which a 10% withholding tax is imposed on dividends we pay to our non-PRC enterprise shareholders and with respect to gains derived by our non-PRC enterprise shareholders from transferring our shares or ADSs, if such income is considered PRC-sourced income by the relevant PRC authorities. This could have the effect of increasing our and our shareholders’ effective income tax rates and may require us to deduct withholding tax from any dividends we pay to our non-PRC shareholders. In addition to the uncertainties regarding how the new “resident enterprise” classification may apply, it is also possible that the rules may change in the future, possibly with retroactive effect.
 
Moreover, pursuant to the Arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, dividends declared after January 1, 2008 and distributed to our Hong Kong subsidiary by our PRC subsidiaries are subject to withholding tax at a rate of 5%, provided that our Hong Kong subsidiary is deemed by the relevant PRC tax authorities to be a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law and holds at least 25% of the equity interest of our PRC subsidiaries. The State Administration for Taxation promulgated the Notice on How to Understand and Determine the Beneficial Owners in Tax Agreement on October 27, 2009, or SAT Circular 601, which provides guidance for determining whether a resident of a jurisdiction with tax treaties with the PRC is the “beneficial owner” of an item of income under PRC tax treaties and tax arrangements. According to SAT Circular 601, a beneficial owner generally must engage in substantive business activities. An agent or conduit company will not be regarded as a beneficial owner and, therefore, will not qualify for treaty benefits. A conduit company normally refers to a company that is set up for the purpose of avoiding or reducing taxes or transferring or accumulating profits. Although we may use Xueersi Hong Kong as a platform to expand our business in the future, Xueersi Hong Kong currently does not engage in any substantive business activities and thus it is possible that Xueersi Hong Kong may not be regarded as a “beneficial owner” for the purposes of SAT Circular 601 and the dividends it receives from our PRC subsidiaries would be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%.
 
We face uncertainties with respect to application of the Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfer of Non-PRC Resident Enterprises.
 
Pursuant to the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 698, issued by the State Administration of Taxation on December 10, 2009, where a foreign investor transfers the equity interests of a PRC resident enterprise indirectly via disposition of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, or an “Indirect Transfer,” and such overseas holding company is located in a tax jurisdiction that (i) has an effective tax rate less than 12.5% or (ii) does not tax foreign income of its residents, the foreign investor shall report the Indirect Transfer to the competent tax authority. The PRC tax authority will examine the true nature of the Indirect Transfer, and if the tax authority considers that the foreign investor has adopted an “abusive arrangement” in order to avoid PRC tax, it may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company and re-characterize the Indirect Transfer and as a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. Circular 698 also provides that, where a non-PRC resident enterprise transfers its equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise to its related parties at a price lower than the fair market value, the competent tax authority has the power to make a reasonable adjustment to the taxable income of the transaction. Circular 698 is retroactively effective from January 1, 2008. The relevant PRC authority has not yet promulgated any formal provisions or formally declared or stated how to calculate the effective tax in a foreign jurisdiction and how a foreign investor shall report to the competent tax authority an Indirect Transfer. Since Circular 698 was newly promulgated, there are uncertainties as to its application. It is possible that we or our non-resident investors may become at risk of being taxed under Circular 698 and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 698 or to establish that we or our non-resident investors
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should not be taxed under Circular 698, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations or such non-resident investors’ investment in us.
 
We face risks and uncertainties with respect to the licensing requirement for Internet audio-video programs.
 
On December 20, 2007, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MII, issued the  Administrative Measures Regarding Internet Audio-Video Program Services , or the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, which became effective on January 31, 2008. Among other things, the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures stipulate that no entities or individuals may provide Internet audio-video program services without a “License for Disseminating Audio-Video Programs through Information Network” issued by SARFT or its local bureaus or completing the relevant registration with SARFT or its local bureaus, and only entities wholly owned or controlled by the PRC government may engage in the production, editing, integration or consolidation, and transmission to the public through the Internet, of audio-video programs, or the provision of audio-video program uploading and transmission services. On February 3, 2008, SARFT and MII jointly held a press conference in response to inquiries related to the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, during which SARFT and MII officials indicated that providers of audio-video program services established prior to the promulgation date of the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures that do not have any regulatory non-compliance records can re-register with the relevant government authorities to continue their current business operations. After the conference, the two authorities published a press release that confirmed the above guidelines. There are still significant uncertainties relating to the interpretation and implementation of the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, in particular, the scope of “Internet Audio-Video Programs.”
 
Furthermore, on April 1, 2010, SARFT promulgated the Test Implementation of the Tentative Categories of Internet Audio-Visual Program Services, or the Categories, which clarified the scope of Internet audio-video programs services. According to the Categories, there are four categories of Internet audio-visual program services which are further divided into seventeen sub-categories. The third sub-category to the second category covers the making and editing of certain specialized audio-video programs concerning, among other things, educational content, and broadcasting such content to the general public online.
 
Since we began offering online courses in 2010, revenues derived from audio-video program services that may be subject to the Audio-Video Program Measures were less than 1.5% of our net revenue. In the course of offering online tutoring services, we transmit our audio-video educational courses and programs through the Internet only to enrolled course participants, not to the general public. The limited scope of our audience distinguishes us from general online audio-video broadcasting companies, such as companies operating user-generated content websites. In addition, we do not provide audio-video program uploading and transmission services. As a result, we believe that we are not subject to the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures. However, there is no further official or publicly available interpretation of these definitions, especially the scope of “Internet audio-video program service.” If the governmental authorities determine that our provision of online tutoring services falls within the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, we may not be able to obtain the License for Disseminating Audio-Video Programs through Information Network. If this occurs, we may become subject to significant penalties, fines, legal sanctions or an order to suspend our use of audio-video content.
 
Fluctuation in the value of the Renminbi may have a material adverse effect on your investment.
 
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions and China’s foreign exchange policies. The conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar, has been based on exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi solely to the U.S. dollar. Under this revised policy, the Renminbi is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the Renminbi appreciated approximately 21.5% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Since July 2008, however, the Renminbi has traded within a narrow range against the
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U.S. dollar, remaining within 1% of its July 2008 high. As a consequence, the Renminbi has fluctuated significantly since July 2008 against other freely traded currencies, in tandem with the U.S. dollar. On June 20, 2010, the People’s Bank of China announced that the PRC government will further reform the Renminbi exchange rate regime and enhance the Renminbi exchange rate flexibility. It is difficult to predict how this new policy may impact the Renminbi exchange rate going forward.
 
Significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material adverse effect on your investment. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this initial public offering into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our common shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
 
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.
 
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. Under our current corporate structure, our income will be primarily derived from a share of the earnings from our PRC subsidiaries. Revenues of our PRC subsidiaries are all denominated in Renminbi. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency-denominated obligations. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, for any PRC company, dividends can be declared and paid only out of the retained earnings of that company under PRC law. Furthermore, approval from SAFE or its local branch is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions, without a prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from the operations of our subsidiaries in China may be used to pay dividends by our PRC subsidiaries to TAL Group through Xueersi Hong Kong and pay employees of our PRC subsidiaries who are located outside China in a currency other than the Renminbi. With a prior approval from SAFE, cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities may be used to pay off debt in a currency other than the Renminbi owed by our subsidiaries and affiliated entities to entities outside China, and make other capital expenditures outside China in a currency other than the Renminbi. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.
 
Risks Related to Our ADSs and This Offering
 
There has been no public market for our common shares or ADSs prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our ADSs at or above the price you paid, or at all.
 
Prior to this initial public offering, there has been no public market for our common shares or ADSs. We have applied to list our ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange. Our common shares will not be listed on any exchange or quoted for trading on any over-the-counter trading system. If an active trading market for our ADSs does not develop after this offering, the market price and liquidity of our ADSs will be materially and adversely affected.
 
The initial public offering price for our ADSs will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters and may bear no relationship to the market price for our ADSs after this initial public offering.
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We cannot assure you that an active trading market for our ADSs will develop or that the market price of our ADSs will not decline below the initial public offering price.
 
The market price for our ADSs may be volatile.
 
The market price for our ADSs is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors such as:

 	•  	actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	changes in the economic performance or market valuation of other education companies,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	announcements by us or our competitors of material acquisitions,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	addition or departure of our executive officers and key personnel,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	intellectual property litigation,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	release or expiration of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding Class B common shares or ADSs, and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	economic, regulatory or political conditions in China.	
 
In addition, the performance, and fluctuation in market prices, of other companies with business operations mainly located in China that have listed their securities in the United States may affect the volatility in the price and trading volume of our ADSs. Furthermore, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also have a material adverse effect on the market price of our ADSs.
 
Our dual-class voting structure will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our Class A common shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.
 
Our common shares are divided into Class A common shares and Class B common shares. Holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B common shares are entitled to ten votes per share. We will issue Class A common shares represented by our ADSs in this offering. All of our existing shareholders as of September 29, 2010, including our founders, hold our Class B common shares, and our outstanding preferred shares will be automatically converted into Class B common shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. We intend to maintain the dual-class voting structure after the completion of this offering. Each Class B common share is convertible into one Class A common share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A common shares are not convertible into Class B common shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B common shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, such Class B common shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the equal number of Class A common shares. In addition, if at any time Mr. Bangxin Zhang, Mr. Yundong Cao, Mr. Yachao Liu, Mr. Yunfeng Bai, Tiger Global Five China Holdings and KTB China Optimum Fund and their respective affiliates collectively own less than 5% of the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares (taking into account all of the issued and outstanding preferred shares on an as-converted basis), each issued and outstanding Class B common share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one share of Class A common share, and we shall not issue any Class B common shares thereafter. Due to the disparate voting powers attached to these two classes, we anticipate that our existing shareholders will collectively own approximately 98.1% of the voting power of our outstanding shares immediately after this offering and will have considerable influence over matters requiring shareholder approval, including election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or sale of our company or our assets. In particular, our founders and senior management, Mr. Bangxin
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Zhang, Mr. Yundong Cao, Mr. Yachao Liu and Mr. Yunfeng Bai and their respective affiliates, will beneficially own approximately 63.8% of our total outstanding shares, representing 74.6% of our total voting power immediately after this offering. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions that holders of Class A common shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.
 
Our corporate actions are substantially controlled by our officers, directors, principal shareholders and their affiliated entities.
 
After this offering, our executive officers, directors and their affiliated entities will beneficially own approximately 63.8% of our total outstanding shares, representing 74.6% of our total voting power. These shareholders, if they acted together, could exert substantial influence over matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including electing directors and approving mergers or other business combination transactions and they may not act in the best interests of other minority shareholders. This concentration of ownership may also discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and might reduce the price of our ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders, including those who purchase ADSs in this offering.
 
If securities or industry analysts publish negative reports about our business, the price and trading volume of our securities could decline.
 
The trading market for our securities depends, in part, on the research reports and ratings that securities or industry analysts or ratings agencies publish about us, our business and the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China in general. We do not have any control over these analysts or agencies. If one or more of the analysts or agencies who cover us downgrades us or our securities, the price of our securities may decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price of our securities or trading volume to decline.
 
Because the initial public offering price is substantially higher than our net tangible book value per share, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution.
 
If you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will pay more for your ADSs than the amount paid by our existing shareholders for their common shares on a per ADS basis. As a result, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of approximately $7.55 per ADS (assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to acquire additional ADSs), representing the difference between our net tangible book value per ADS as of August 31, 2010 after giving effect to this offering for an assumed initial public offering price of $9.00 per ADS, the midpoint of the range shown on the front cover page of this prospectus. In addition, you may experience further dilution to the extent that our restricted shares are vested. See “Dilution” for a more complete description of how the value of your investment in our ADSs will be diluted upon completion of this offering.
 
Substantial future sales or the expectation of substantial sales of our ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
 
Sales of our ADSs or Class A common shares in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ADSs to decline. Upon completion of this offering, we will have Class A and Class B common shares outstanding, including Class A common shares represented by ADSs. All ADSs sold in this offering will be freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. The remaining common shares outstanding after this offering will be available for sale upon the expiration of the 180-day lock-up period beginning from the date of this prospectus and, in the case of the Class B common shares and Class A common shares that certain option holders will receive when they exercise their share options, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act. Any or
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all of these shares (other than those held by certain option holders) may be released prior to expiration of the lock-up period at the discretion of the underwriters. To the extent shares are released before the expiration of the lock-up period and these shares are sold into the market, the market price of our ADSs could decline.
 
In addition, several of our shareholders have the right to cause us to register the sale of their shares under the Securities Act upon the occurrence of certain circumstances. See “Description of Share Capital—Shareholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights.” Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration of these shares. Sales of these registered shares in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
 
Our post-offering articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could discourage a third party from acquiring us, which could limit our shareholders’ opportunity to sell their shares, including Class A common shares represented by our ADSs, at a premium.
 
Our articles of association that will become effective immediately upon the completion of this offering contain provisions that limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. For example, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares. These preferred shares may have better voting rights than our Class A common shares, in the form of ADSs or otherwise, and could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting rights of the holders of our common shares and ADSs may be diluted.
 
Certain actions require the approval of a supermajority of at least two-thirds of our board of directors which, among other things, would allow our non-independent directors to block a variety of actions or transactions, such as a merger or asset sale, even if all of our independent directors unanimously voted in favor of such action, thereby further depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium. See “Description of Share Capital—Common Shares—Voting Rights.”
 
Holders of ADSs have fewer rights than shareholders and must act through the depositary to exercise those rights.
 
Holders of ADSs do not have the same rights of our shareholders and may only exercise the voting rights with respect to the underlying Class A common shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, the minimum notice period required to convene a general meeting is ten days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient notice of a shareholders’ meeting to permit you to withdraw your common shares to allow you to cast your vote with respect to any specific matter. In addition, the depositary and its agents may not be able to send voting instructions to you or carry out your voting instructions in a timely manner. We will make all reasonable efforts to cause the depositary to extend voting rights to you in a timely manner, but we cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your ADSs. Furthermore, the depositary and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may lack recourse if your ADSs are not voted as you requested. In addition, in your capacity as an ADS holder, you will not be able to call a shareholders’ meeting.
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You may not receive distributions on our common shares or any value for them if such distribution is illegal or if any required government approval cannot be obtained in order to make such distribution available to you.
 
The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on common shares or other deposited securities underlying our ADSs, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of Class A common shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful, inequitable or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, it would be unlawful to make a distribution to a holder of ADSs if it consists of securities that require registration under the Securities Act but that are not properly registered or distributed under an applicable exemption from registration. The depositary may also determine that it is not feasible to distribute certain property through the mail. Additionally, the value of certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may determine not to distribute such property. We have no obligation to register under U.S. securities laws any ADSs, common shares, rights or other securities received through such distributions. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, common shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive distributions we make on our common shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may cause a material decline in the value of our ADSs.
 
You may be subject to limitations on transfers of your ADSs.
 
Your ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deem it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.
 
Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings.
 
We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make rights available to you in the United States unless we register the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Also, under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not make rights available to you unless the distribution to ADS holders of both the rights and any related securities are either registered under the Securities Act, or exempted from registration under the Securities Act. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. Moreover, we may not be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in your holdings.
 
We are a Cayman Islands company and, because judicial precedent regarding the rights of shareholders is more limited under Cayman Islands law than that under U.S. law, you may have less protection for your shareholder rights than you would under U.S. law.
 
Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, the Cayman Islands Companies Law (as amended) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as that from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not
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as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. In addition, some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands.
 
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as shareholders of a U.S. public company.
 
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China against us, our management or the experts named in this prospectus.
 
We are a Cayman Islands company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. All of our current operations are conducted in the PRC. In addition, most of our directors and officers are nationals and residents of the PRC. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process within the United States or elsewhere outside China upon these persons. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors, most of whom are not residents in the United States and the substantial majority of whose assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state and it is uncertain whether such Cayman Islands or PRC courts would be competent to hear original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or the PRC against us or such persons predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state. In addition, since we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and our corporate affairs are governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands, it is difficult for you to bring an action against us based upon PRC laws in the event that you believe that your rights as a shareholder have been infringed. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities.”
 
We have not determined any specific use for a portion of the net proceeds to us from this offering and we may use such portion of the net proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.
 
We have not allocated a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to any specific purpose. Rather, our management will have considerable discretion in the application of such portion of the net proceeds. See “Use of Proceeds.” You will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether such proceeds are being used appropriately. You must rely on the judgment of our management regarding the application of such proceeds we receive from this offering. Such proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not improve our profitability or increase our ADS price. Such proceeds we receive from this offering may also be placed in investments that do not produce income or that may lose value.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. The forward looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled “Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Market Opportunity” and “Business.” You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue,” “seek,” “should,” “predict,” “anticipate” or negative versions of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statement contain these words.
 
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to:

 	•  	our anticipated growth strategies;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	competition in the K-12 after-school tutoring market;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our future business development, results of operations and financial condition;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	expected changes in our revenues and certain cost and expense items;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	our ability to increase student enrollments and course fees and expand course offerings;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	risks associated with the expansion of our geographic reach;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the expected increase in spending on private education in China; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	PRC laws, regulations and policies relating to private education and providers of after-school tutoring services.	
 
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. Our actual results could be materially different from our expectations. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those important risks and factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from our expectations are generally set forth in “Summary—Our Challenges,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business,” “Regulation” and other sections in this prospectus. You should read thoroughly this prospectus and the documents that we refer to with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements with these cautionary statements. Other sections of this prospectus include additional factors which could adversely impact our business and financial performance.
 
This prospectus contains statistical data that we obtained from various government and private publications. Statistical data in these publications also include projections based on a number of assumptions. The market for K-12 after-school tutoring services in China may not grow at the rate projected by market data, or at all. The failure of this market to grow at the projected rate may have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our ADSs. Furthermore, if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data is later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
 
The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we refer to in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
 
We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $98.3 million, or approximately $113.3 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. These estimates are based upon an assumed initial offering price of $9.00 per ADS (the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range shown on the front cover page of this prospectus). A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $9.00 per ADS would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $11.2 million, assuming the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
 
The primary purposes of this offering are to create a public market for our shares for the benefit of all shareholders, retain talented employees by providing them with equity incentives, and obtain additional capital. We plan to use the net proceeds from the offering as follows:

 	•  	approximately $30.0 million to expand our network of learning centers and service centers;	

 	•  	approximately $15.0 million to build a national training center;	

 	•  	$30.0 million to pay a declared dividend conditional upon the completion of this offering (see “Dividend Policy”);	

 	•  	approximately $10.0 million to improve our existing facilities; and	

 	•  	the balance for general corporate purposes, including strategic investments in and acquisitions of complementary businesses, although we have not identified any near-term investment or acquisition targets.	
 
The foregoing represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions to use and allocate the net proceeds of this offering. Our management, however, will have significant flexibility and discretion to apply the net proceeds of this offering. If an unforeseen event occurs or business conditions change, we may use the proceeds of this offering differently than as described in this prospectus. To the extent that a certain portion or all of the net proceeds we receive from this offering are not immediately applied for the above purposes, we plan to invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing debt instruments or bank deposits.
 
In using the proceeds of this offering, as an offshore holding company, we are permitted, under the PRC laws and regulations, to provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through loans or capital contributions and to our PRC affiliated entities only through loans, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. There are no costs associated with registering loans or capital contributions with relevant PRC authorities, other than nominal processing charges. Under PRC laws and regulations, the PRC governmental authorities are required to process such approvals or registrations or deny our application within 90 days. The actual time taken, however, may be longer due to administrative delay. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may limit the use of the proceeds we receive from this offering for our expansion or operations.”
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DIVIDEND POLICY
 
On September 29, 2010, we declared a $30.0 million cash dividend payable to our shareholders of record as of that date, subject to the completion of this offering. However, we do not have any present plan to pay any other cash dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.
 
Our board of directors has complete discretion whether to declare dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to declare dividends, their form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant.
 
Holders of our ADSs will be entitled to receive dividends, if any, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as the holders of our Class A common shares. Cash dividends will be paid to the depositary of our ADSs in U.S. dollars, which will distribute them to the holders of ADSs according to the terms of the deposit agreement. Other distributions, if any, will be paid by the depositary to the holders of ADSs in any means it deems legal, fair and practical. See “Description of American Depositary Shares.”
 
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in China for our cash needs. To pay dividends to us, our subsidiaries in China shall comply with the current PRC regulations. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—We may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could limit our ability to pay dividends to holders of our ADSs and common shares.”
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CAPITALIZATION
 
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of August 31, 2010:

 	•  	on an actual basis;	

 	•  	on a pro forma basis to reflect (i) the automatic conversion of all of our Series A preferred shares into 5,000,000 Class B common shares immediately upon the completion of this offering and (ii) the accrual of a $30.0 million cash dividend declared to our existing shareholders as of September 29, 2010 and payable upon the completion of this offering; and	

 	•  	on a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect (i) the pro forma adjustments above and (ii) the sale of 24,000,000 Class A common shares in the form of ADSs by us in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $9.00 per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated range of our initial public offering price, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.	
 
You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the information under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 	 	As of August 31, 2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Pro forma as
	
 	 	Actual	 	Pro forma	 	adjusted	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dividend proposed	 	 	—	 	 	 	30,000,000	 	 	 	—	 	
Series A preferred shares ($0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding)	 	 	9,000,000	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common shares ($0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized and nil issued and outstanding, actual; 500,000,000 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding, pro forma; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 24,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted) (1)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	24,000	 	
Class B common shares ($0.001 par value, 495,000,000 shares authorized, 120,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, and 125,000,000 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis) (1)	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	125,000	 	 	 	125,000	 	
Additional paid-in capital(2)	 	 	1,699,503	 	 	 	(19,305,497	)	 	 	78,931,364	 	
Retained earnings(3)	 	 	30,173,018	 	 	 	30,173,018	 	 	 	30,173,018	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive income	 	 	288,226	 	 	 	288,226	 	 	 	288,226	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total equity	 	 	32,280,747	 	 	 	11,280,747	 	 	 	109,541,608	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total capitalization	 	 	32,280,747	 	 	 	11,280,747	 	 	 	109,541,608	 	

 
 	 	 	
 	 	Notes:	

(1)	 	Effective September 29, 2010, our share capital was re-designated into Class A and Class B common shares under our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.	

(2)	 	A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $9.00 per ADS would increase (decrease) each of additional paid-in capital, total shareholders equity and total capitalization by $11.2 million.	

(3)	 	Includes $4.9 million in statutory reserves that are not available for distribution pursuant to PRC laws.	

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DILUTION
 
If you invest in our ADSs, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per ADS and our net tangible book value per ADS after this offering. Dilution results from the conversion of our Series A preferred shares and the fact that the initial public offering price per ADS is substantially in excess of the book value per common share attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently outstanding common shares.
 
Our net tangible book value as of August 31, 2010 was approximately $30.5 million, or $0.25 per common share and $0.51 per ADS as of that date. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated tangible assets less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities and our Series A preferred convertible redeemable shares. Pro forma dilution is determined by subtracting net tangible book value per common share, after giving effect to the conversion of all outstanding Series A preferred shares into Class B common shares upon the completion of this offering, the accrual of a $30.0 million cash dividend declared to our then existing shareholders and payable upon the completion of this offering and the additional proceeds we will receive from this offering, from the assumed initial public offering price per ADS, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
 
Without taking into account any other changes in net tangible book value after August 31, 2010, other than to give effect to (i) the conversion of all outstanding Series A preferred shares into Class B common shares upon the completion of this offering, (ii) our sale of the ADSs offered in this offering at the initial public offering price of $9.00 per ADS after deduction of the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and (iii) the payment of a $30.0 million cash dividend previously declared to our then existing shareholders and payable upon the closing of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value as of August 31, 2010 would have been $107.8 million, or $0.72 per outstanding common share and $1.45 per ADS. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.65 per common share and $1.29 per ADS to the existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $3.78 per common share and $7.55 per ADS to investors purchasing ADSs in this offering. The following table illustrates such dilution:

 	 	Per Common
	 	 	
 	 	Share	 	Per ADS	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assumed initial public offering price	 	$	4.50	 	 	$	9.00	 	
Net tangible book value per share as of August 31, 2010	 	$	0.25	 	 	$	0.51	 	
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the conversion of our Series A preferred shares and accrual of $30.0 million cash dividend	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.15	 	
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the conversion of our Series A preferred shares and accrual of $30.0 million cash dividend and this offering	 	$	0.72	 	 	$	1.45	 	
Amount of dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in the offering	 	$	3.78	 	 	$	7.55	 	

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The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis as of August 31, 2010, the differences between existing shareholders, including holders of our Series A preferred shares that will be automatically converted into Class B common shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and the new investors with respect to the number of Class A common shares (in the form of ADSs or shares) purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price per Class A common share/ADS paid before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The total number of common shares does not include Class A common shares underlying the ADSs issuable upon the exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters.

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Average
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Price Per
	 	 	Average
	 	
 	 	Common shares
	 	 	Total
	 	 	Common
	 	 	Price Per
	 	
 	 	Purchased	 	 	Consideration	 	 	Share	 	 	ADS	 	
 	 	Number	 	 	Percent	 	 	Amount	 	 	Percent	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Existing shareholders	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	84	%	 	$	9,899,641	 	 	 	8.4	%	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.16	 	
New investors	 	 	24,000,000	 	 	 	16	%	 	$	108,000,000	 	 	 	91.6	%	 	$	4.50	 	 	$	9.00	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	 	149,000,000	 	 	 	100	%	 	$	117,899,641	 	 	 	100	%	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $9.00 per ADS, after giving effect to the automatic conversion of our Series A preferred shares, the accrual of the $30.0 million cash dividend and the receipt of net proceeds from this offering, would increase (decrease) our pro forma net tangible book value by $11.2 million, the pro forma net tangible book value per common share and per ADS by $0.07 per Class A common share and $0.15 per ADS and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per common share and per ADS to new investors in this offering by $0.43 per common share and $0.85 per ADS, respectively, assuming no change to the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
 
The pro forma information discussed above is illustrative only. Our net tangible book value following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our ADSs and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
 
The discussion and tables above also assume no vesting of any outstanding restricted shares. As of the date of this prospectus, there are 5,419,500 restricted shares granted to our directors, executive officers and employees that are outstanding and will be vested in accordance with vesting schedules ranging from one to four years. To the extent that any of these restricted shares are vested, there will be further dilution to new investors.
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EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
 
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China and substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in RMB. This prospectus contains translations of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specific rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB in this prospectus were made at a rate of RMB6.8069 to $1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release on August 31, 2010. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, the rates stated herein, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and through restrictions on international trade. On October 1, 2010, the certified exchange rate was RMB6.6895 to $1.00.
 
The following table sets forth information concerning exchange rates between RMB and the U.S. dollar for the periods indicated. These rates are provided solely for your convenience and are not necessarily the exchange rates that we used in this prospectus or will use in the preparation of our periodic reports or any other information to be provided to you.

 	 	Exchange Rate	
Period	 	Period End	 	Average(1)	 	Low	 	High	
 	 	(RMB per $1.00)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
2005	 	 	8.0702	 	 	 	8.1826	 	 	 	8.2765	 	 	 	8.0702	 	
2006	 	 	7.8041	 	 	 	7.9579	 	 	 	8.0702	 	 	 	7.8041	 	
2007	 	 	7.2946	 	 	 	7.5806	 	 	 	7.8127	 	 	 	7.2946	 	
2008	 	 	6.8225	 	 	 	6.9193	 	 	 	7.2946	 	 	 	6.7800	 	
2009	 	 	6.8259	 	 	 	6.8295	 	 	 	6.8470	 	 	 	6.8176	 	
2010	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
March	 	 	6.8258	 	 	 	6.8262	 	 	 	6.8270	 	 	 	6.8254	 	
April	 	 	6.8247	 	 	 	6.8256	 	 	 	6.8275	 	 	 	6.8229	 	
May	 	 	6.8305	 	 	 	6.8275	 	 	 	6.8310	 	 	 	6.8245	 	
June	 	 	6.7815	 	 	 	6.8184	 	 	 	6.8323	 	 	 	6.7815	 	
July	 	 	6.7735	 	 	 	6.7762	 	 	 	6.7807	 	 	 	6.7709	 	
August	 	 	6.8069	 	 	 	6.7873	 	 	 	6.8069	 	 	 	6.7670	 	
September	 	 	6.6905	 	 	 	6.7396	 	 	 	6.8102	 	 	 	6.6869	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release	
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Annual averages were calculated by using the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the relevant year. Monthly averages are calculated by using the average of the daily rates during the relevant month.	

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
 
We were incorporated in the Cayman Islands in order to enjoy certain benefits, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions, and the availability of professional and support services. However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include a less developed body of Cayman Islands securities laws that provide significantly less protection to investors as compared to the laws of the United States, and the potential lack of standing by Cayman Islands companies to sue before the federal courts of the United States.
 
Our organizational documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
 
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. A majority of our officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
 
We have appointed Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc., as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.
 
Maples and Calder, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and Tian Yuan Law Firm, our counsel as to PRC law, have respectively advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and China would:

 	•  	recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.	
 
Maples and Calder has further advised us that a final and conclusive judgment in a federal or state court of the United States under which a sum of money is payable, other than a sum payable in respect of taxes, fines, penalties or similar charges, and which was neither obtained in a manner nor is of a kind enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands, may be subject to enforcement proceedings as a debt in the courts of the Cayman Islands under the common law without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute. However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a punitive judgment of a United States court predicated upon the liabilities provision of the federal securities laws in the United States without retrial on the merits if such judgment gives rise to obligations to make payments that may be regarded as fines, penalties or similar charges.
 
Tian Yuan Law Firm has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or the Cayman Islands.
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In addition, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in China based upon Cayman Islands laws, U.S. law or PRC laws, because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it is difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding our ADSs or common shares, to establish a connection to the PRC as required by the PRC Civil Procedures Law in order for a PRC court to have jurisdiction. U.S. shareholders may be able to originate actions against us in the Cayman Islands based upon Cayman Islands laws. However, we do not have any substantial assets other than certain corporate documents and records in the Cayman Islands and it may be difficult for a shareholder to enforce a judgment obtained in a Cayman Islands court in China, where all of our operations are conducted.
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OUR CORPORATE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE
 
Our Corporate History
 
Our founders, Mr. Bangxin Zhang and Mr. Yundong Cao, offered our first after-school mathematics tutoring class in August 2003 when they were still attending graduate schools in Peking University. Two other members of our senior management, Dr. Yachao Liu and Mr. Yunfeng Bai, joined us as teachers in 2003 and 2005, respectively, and have risen to senior management positions due to their outstanding performance. In 2005, our founders established Xueersi Education, a domestic company in China. In order to facilitate foreign investment in our company, we incorporated TAL Group to become our offshore holding company under the laws of the Cayman Islands on January 10, 2008. TAL Group established Xueersi Hong Kong in Hong Kong in March 2008 as our intermediary holding company. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Taxation—PRC” for a discussion of tax implications of having Xueersi Hong Kong as our intermediary holding company. Xueersi Hong Kong subsequently established three wholly owned subsidiaries in China: TAL Beijing in May 2008, Huanqiu Zhikang in September 2009 and Yidu Huida in November 2009.
 
Although we have expanded our business operations primarily through organic growth, we made five small business acquisitions in selected new geographic markets in 2008 to take advantage of the targets’ existing student base and operating licenses. The five acquisitions were: (i) the purchase of assets and related business of a school in Tianjin in March 2008 for consideration of $0.2 million; (ii) the acquisition of a school in Jianli, Hubei Province in July 2008 for consideration of $0.2 million; (iii) the acquisition of a school in Qianjiang, Hubei Province in July 2008 for consideration of $0.2 million; (iv) the acquisition of a school in Wuhan, Hubei Province in July 2008 for consideration of $1.6 million; and (v) the acquisition of Shanghai Leihai and its 100% owned subsidiaries in Shanghai in August 2008 for total consideration of $1.0 million.
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The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure:

 

(1)	 	Each person is an ultimate beneficial owner and also a director or executive officer of TAL Group.	
 
Due to the PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in the education business in China, we rely on a series of contractual arrangements among TAL Beijing, Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries and schools to conduct most of our tutoring services in China, while our personalized premium services in Beijing are offered through our subsidiary, Huanqiu Zhikang. These contractual arrangements enable us to:

 	•  	exercise effective control over Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries in consideration for the services provided by us; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	have an exclusive option to purchase all of the equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network when and to the extent permitted under PRC law.	
 
We do not have equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network; however, as a result of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of Xueersi Network and Xueersi Education and treat them as our variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, we refer to Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network collectively as our VIEs. We refer to our VIEs and the VIEs’ direct and indirect subsidiaries
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and schools collectively as “affiliated entities.” Moreover, in the contractual arrangements, the shareholders of the VIEs, in exchange for giving up effective control over the VIEs, received pro rata equity interests in TAL Group, which serves to align their interests with ours in performing those contracts. For a more detailed discussion of the risk of potential conflicts of interest associated with our corporate structure, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—The shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.”
 
We have consolidated the financial results of our VIEs and their subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For the three fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively, $8.9 million, $37.5 million and $68.9 million, or 100%, 100% and 99.0% of our total net revenues are attributable to our affiliated entities.
 
We currently offer our personalized premium tutoring services in Beijing through Huanqiu Zhikang, our wholly owned subsidiary, which is a foreign-invested company under PRC laws. Except for our personalized premium services in Beijing, none of our existing business is conducted directly by our subsidiaries. Yidu Huida was formed as part of our corporate strategic planning and has yet to conduct any significant business operations. Yidu Huida may in the future provide information technology support to our other subsidiaries and affiliated entities, which is within the business scope of Yidu Huida. For a description of the risks associated with our offering personalized premium tutoring services in Beijing through Huanqiu Zhikang, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—If the relevant PRC regulatory authorities determine that personalized premium services must be operated through registered schools or non-foreign-invested PRC companies, our personalized premium services business may be exposed to increased risks associated with the contractual arrangements.”
 
The services provided or expected to be provided by TAL Beijing, Huanqiu Zhikang and Yidu Huida are within their respective business scopes as set forth in their business licenses. In particular, the business scope of TAL Beijing includes research, development and production of computer hardware and software, system integration, sale of self-produced goods, technological services, technology transfer, technology consulting and management consulting; the business scope of Huanqiu Zhikang includes education consulting, investment consulting, business consulting and management consulting; and the business scope of Yidu Huida includes (i) research, development and production of computer hardware and software, information technology and system integration, (ii) technology consulting and training, technology transfer and technological services, (iii) management consulting and (iv) sale of self-produced goods.
 
Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Affiliated Entities
 
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the agreements between TAL Beijing, our wholly owned subsidiary, and our affiliated entities and the respective shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network. For more complete information you should read these agreements in their entirety. Directions on how to obtain copies of these agreements are provided in this prospectus under “Additional Information.”
 
Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits to Us
 
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Pursuant to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement entered into by and among TAL Beijing, the shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and each of our affiliated entities entered into in June 2010, which supersedes all agreements among parties with respect to subject matters thereof, TAL Beijing has the exclusive right to provide each of our affiliated entities comprehensive technical and business support services. Such services include educational software and course materials research and development, employee training, technology development, transfer and consulting services, public relation services, market survey, research and consulting services, market development and planning services, human resource and internal information management, network development, upgrade and ordinary maintenance services, sales of proprietary products, and software and trademark licensing and other additional services as the parties may mutually agree from time to time. Without the prior written consent of
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TAL Beijing, none of the affiliated entities may accept services covered by the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement provided by any third party. TAL Beijing owns the exclusive intellectual property rights created as a result of the performance of this agreement. Our affiliated entities agree to pay annual service fees to TAL Beijing and adjust the service fee rates from time to time at TAL Beijing’s discretion. The agreement will not expire unless terminated pursuant by a mutual agreement of parties. The Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement entitles TAL Beijing to charge our affiliated entities annual service fees that amount to substantially all of the net income of the affiliated entities. TAL Beijing recognized service fees in the total amount of RMB183.3 million ($26.9 million), representing 100% of the net income before the service fees of the affiliated entities, as of August 31, 2010 in consideration for services provided to our affiliated entities; of this amount, which have been eliminated upon consolidation, RMB127.2 million ($18.7 million) has been paid. The payment of the annual service fees is determined by TAL Beijing based on our cash flow management. Under our current payment schedule, the unpaid balance of service fees is expected to be paid within next 12 to 24 months.
 
Call Option Agreement. Pursuant to a call option agreement, dated February 12, 2009, by and among TAL Beijing, Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and the respective shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, the respective shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network unconditionally and irrevocably granted TAL Beijing or its designated third party an exclusive option to purchase from the shareholders part or all of the equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, as the case may be, for the minimum amount of consideration permitted by the applicable PRC laws and regulations under the circumstances where TAL Beijing or its designated third party is permitted under PRC laws and regulations to own all or part of the equity interests of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network or where we otherwise deem it necessary or appropriate to exercise the option. TAL Beijing has sole discretion to decide when to exercise the option, and whether to exercise the option in part or in full. The key factor for us to decide whether to exercise the option is whether the current regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the educational service business will be removed in the future, the likelihood of which we are not in a position to know or comment on.
 
Agreements that Provide Effective Control over Our Consolidated Affiliated Entities
 
Power of Attorney. Each of the shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network have executed an irrevocable power of attorney appointing TAL Beijing, or any person designated by TAL Beijing as their attorney-in-fact to vote on their behalf on all matters of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network requiring shareholder approval under PRC laws and regulations and the articles of association of each of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network. The power of attorney remains effective as long as the relevant person remains a shareholder of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network.
 
The articles of association of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network state that the major rights of the shareholders in a shareholders’ meeting include the power to approve the operating strategy and investment plan, elect the members of board of directors and approve their compensation and review and approve the annual budget and earning distribution plan. Therefore, through the irrevocable power of attorney arrangement, TAL Beijing has the ability to exercise effective control over Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network through shareholder votes and, through such votes, to also control the composition of the board of directors. In addition, the senior management team of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network is the same as that of TAL Beijing. As a result of these contractual rights, we have the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact their economic performance.
 
Equity Pledge Agreement. Pursuant to an equity pledge agreement, dated February 12, 2009, by and among TAL Beijing, Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and the respective shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, the respective shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network unconditionally and irrevocably pledged all of their equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network to TAL Beijing to guarantee performance of the obligations of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries and schools under the technology support and service agreements with TAL Beijing. The shareholders of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network agree that, without the prior written
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consent of TAL Beijing, they will not transfer or dispose the pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests that would prejudice TAL Beijing’s interest.
 
In the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel:

 	•  	the ownership structures of our affiliated entities and wholly owned subsidiaries in China, both currently and after giving effect to this offering, are in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the contractual arrangements among our wholly owned subsidiaries in China, our affiliated entities, the shareholders of Xueersi Education and the shareholders of Xueersi Network are valid, binding and enforceable under, and will not result in any violation of, PRC laws or regulations currently in effect.	
 
We have been advised by our PRC legal counsel, however, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the PRC regulatory authorities will not in the future take a view that is contrary to the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our PRC education business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the education business, we could be subject to severe penalties, which could include:

 	•  	revoking the business and operating licenses of our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	restricting or prohibiting related party transactions between our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	imposing fines or other requirements with which we or our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities may find difficult or impossible to comply;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	requiring us or our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	restricting or prohibiting the use of any proceeds from our additional public offering to finance our business and operations in China.	
 
The imposition of any of these penalties could result in a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government determines that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our business in China are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us.”
 
PRC Regulation of Loans and Direct Investment by Offshore Holding Companies
 
In utilizing the proceeds we receive from this offering in the manner described in “Use of Proceeds,” as an offshore holding company with PRC subsidiaries, we may (i) make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, (ii) establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, (iii) make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or our affiliated entities, or (iv) acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an offshore transaction. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:

 	•  	capital contributions to our subsidiaries in China, whether existing ones or newly established ones, must be approved by the PRC Ministry of Commerce or its local bureaus;	

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 	•  	loans by us to our subsidiaries in China, each of which is a foreign-invested enterprise, to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its local bureaus; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	loans by us to our affiliated entities, which are domestic PRC entities, must be approved by the relevant government authorities and must also be registered with SAFE or its local bureaus.	
 
In addition, on August 29, 2008, SAFE promulgated Circular 142, a notice regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested company of its capital contribution in foreign currency into Renminbi. It requires that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the relevant government authority and may not be used to make equity investments in China, unless specifically provided otherwise. Moreover, the approved use of such Renminbi funds may not be changed without approval from SAFE. Renminbi funds converted from foreign exchange may not be used to repay loans in Renminbi if the proceeds of such loans have not yet been used. Any violation of Circular 142 may result in severe penalties, including substantial fines. We expect that if we convert the net proceeds from this offering into Renminbi pursuant to Circular 142, our use of Renminbi funds will be for purposes within the business approved scope of our PRC subsidiaries. However, we may not be able to use such Renminbi funds to make equity investments in the PRC through our PRC subsidiaries.
 
We expect that the PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may continue to limit our use of proceeds of this offering. There are no costs associated with registering loans or capital contributions with relevant PRC governmental authorities, other than nominal processing charges. Under PRC laws and regulations, the PRC governmental authorities are required to process such approvals or registrations or deny our application within a maximum of 90 days. The actual time taken, however, may be longer due to administrative delay. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to our future plans to use the U.S. dollar proceeds we receive from this offering for our operations and expansion in China. If we fail to receive such registrations or approvals, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and ability to fund and expand our business.
 
We expect that the PRC regulations of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may continue to limit our use of proceeds of this offering. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to our future plans to use the U.S. dollar proceeds we receive from this offering for our expansion and operations in China. If we fail to receive such registrations or approvals, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and ability to fund and expand our business.
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
You should read the following information concerning us in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
The following selected consolidated statements of operations data for our company for the three fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of February 28, 2009 and 2010 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated balance sheet data as of February 29, 2008 are derived from our audited financial statements, which are not included in this prospectus. Our audited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and have been audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., an independent registered public accounting firm. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the six months ended August 31, 2009 and 2010 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of August 31, 2010 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited financial information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for the periods presented. You should read the summary consolidated financial information in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any future period.
 
We have not included financial information for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2006 and 2007, as such information is not available without unreasonable effort or expense.

 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(in thousands of $, except for shares, per share and per ADS data)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	8,882	 	 	$	37,476	 	 	$	69,594	 	 	$	32,983	 	 	$	53,022	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total cost of revenues	 	 	(4,367	)	 	 	(18,554	)	 	 	(37,649	)	 	 	(16,068	)	 	 	(26,255	)(1)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	 	 	4,515	 	 	 	18,922	 	 	 	31,945	 	 	 	16,915	 	 	 	26,767	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing	 	 	(370	)	 	 	(2,353	)	 	 	(5,608	)	 	 	(1,958	)	 	 	(4,184	)(2)	
General and administrative	 	 	(2,478	)	 	 	(5,890	)	 	 	(10,872	)	 	 	(4,602	)	 	 	(7,808	)(3)	
Impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,615	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	(2,848	)	 	 	(9,858	)	 	 	(16,480	)	 	 	(6,560	)	 	 	(11,992	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from operations	 	 	1,667	 	 	 	9,064	 	 	 	15,465	 	 	 	10,355	 	 	 	14,775	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income, net	 	 	11	 	 	 	77	 	 	 	283	 	 	 	103	 	 	 	162	 	
Other expenses	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(210	)	 	 	(124	)	 	 	(119	)	 	 	(27	)	
Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(363	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	

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 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(in thousands of $, except for shares, per share and per ADS data)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	6	 	
Gain on extinguishment of liabilities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	731	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income tax provision	 	 	1,678	 	 	 	9,299	 	 	 	15,624	 	 	 	10,339	 	 	 	14,916	 	
Provision for income tax	 	 	(165	)	 	 	(2,018	)	 	 	(1,379	)	 	 	(912	)	 	 	(1,670	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	1,513	 	 	$	7,281	 	 	$	14,245	 	 	$	9,427	 	 	$	13,246	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Deemed dividends on Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to common shareholders	 	$	1,513	 	 	$	3,168	 	 	$	14,245	 	 	$	9,427	 	 	$	13,246	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-basic	 	 	— 	 	 	$	17.69	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per ADS (5) :	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.05	 	 	$	0.23	 	 	$	0.15	 	 	$	0.22	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.05	 	 	$	0.23	 	 	$	0.15	 	 	$	0.22	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	
Diluted	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	125,193,360	 	
Pro forma net income per common share (4)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.10	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.11	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.10	 	
Pro forma net income per ADS (4)(5)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.22	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.21	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.22	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.21	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating pro forma net income per common share (4)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	123,501,120	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	123,723,146	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	128,501,120	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	128,723,146	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	Notes:	
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $110 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(2)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $163 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(3)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $647 thousand.	

(4)	 	Unaudited pro forma net income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the sum of (i) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and (ii) the number of common shares whose proceeds, calculated using the share price at the midpoint of the price range shown on the face of this prospectus, would be necessary to pay the amount by which the conditional $30.0 million cash dividend exceeds our earnings for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010.	

(5)	 	Each ADS represents two Class A common shares.	
 
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 	 	As of February 29/28,	 	 	 	 	
 	 	2008
	 	2009
	 	2010
	 	As of August 31, 2010	
 	 	Actual	 	Actual	 	Actual	 	Actual	 	Pro Forma(1)	
 	 	(in thousands of $)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	5,704	 	 	$	29,693	 	 	$	50,752	 	 	$	81,495	 	 	 	81,495	 	
Total assets	 	 	8,131	 	 	 	38,553	 	 	 	65,504	 	 	 	97,515	 	 	 	97,515	 	
Deferred revenue	 	 	5,714	 	 	 	18,023	 	 	 	29,408	 	 	 	42,101	 	 	 	42,101	 	
Convertible loan	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	500	 	 	 	500	 	 	 	500	 	
Total liabilities	 	 	7,012	 	 	 	26,198	 	 	 	38,578	 	 	 	56,234	 	 	 	86,234	 	
Net assets	 	 	1,119	 	 	 	12,355	 	 	 	26,926	 	 	 	41,281	 	 	 	11,281	 	
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares	 	 	— 	 	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	— 	 	
Total equity	 	 	1,119	 	 	 	3,355	 	 	 	17,926	 	 	 	32,281	 	 	 	11,281	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	Note:	

(1)	 	Reflects the automatic conversion of all of our Series A preferred shares into 5,000,000 Class B common shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering and the accrual of a $30.0 million cash dividend declared to our shareholders of record as of the dividend declaration date and payable upon the completion of this offering.	
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the section entitled “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
Overview
 
We are the largest K-12 after-school tutoring service provider in China in terms of revenues in 2009, according to iResearch. We offer comprehensive tutoring services to K-12 students, covering core academic subjects, including mathematics, English, Chinese, physics, chemistry and biology. The K-12 after-school tutoring service market in China is highly fragmented. In 2009, we had a 0.26% market share in China and a 4.5% market share in Beijing, in each case as measured by revenues for the year according to iResearch.
 
We deliver our tutoring services through small classes, personalized premium services (i.e., one-on-one tutoring) and online course offerings. Our extensive network consists of 109 learning centers and 87 service centers in Beijing, Shanghai Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Wuhan, as well as our online platform. Our student enrollments increased from 67,996 in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to 382,505 in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 137.2%. Our student enrollment growth has been predominantly driven by new students.
 
We have experienced significant growth in our business in recent years. Our total net revenues increased from $8.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $69.6 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 179.9%. Our net income increased from $1.5 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $14.2 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 206.9%. Our total net revenues and net income was $53.0 million and $13.2 million, respectively, for the six months ended August 31, 2010.
 
Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
 
We have benefited significantly from the overall economic growth, the increase in household disposable income, the rising household spending on private education and the intense competition for quality education in China. We anticipate that the demand for K-12 after-school tutoring services will continue to grow. According to iResearch, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China grew from RMB123.8 billion in 2007 to RMB189.7 billion ($27.8 billion) in 2009, representing a CAGR of 23.8%, and is projected to grow to RMB447.2 billion ($65.5 billion) in 2014, representing a CAGR of 18.7% from 2009. However, any adverse changes in the economic conditions in China that adversely affect the K-12 after-school tutoring service market in China may harm our business and results of operations.
 
Our results of operations are also affected by the education system or policies relating to after-school tutoring service market in China. Due to the PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in education business in China, we rely on a series of contractual arrangements among TAL Beijing, Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries and schools to conduct most of our tutoring services in China, while our personalized premium services in Beijing are offered through Huanqiu Zhikang. We do not have equity interests in Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network; however, as a result of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and treat them as our variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel, the ownership structures of our affiliated entities and wholly owned subsidiaries in China, both currently and after giving effect to this offering, are in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations. We have been advised by our PRC legal counsel, however, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government determines that the agreements that establish the
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structure for operating our business in China are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us.”
 
While our business is influenced by factors affecting the private education industry in China generally and by conditions in each of the geographic markets covered by our service network, we believe that our results of operations are more directly affected by company-specific factors, including the number of student enrollments, the pricing of our tutoring services and the amount of our costs and expenses.
 
Number of Student Enrollments
 
Our revenue growth is primarily driven by the increase in the number of student enrollments, which is directly affected by the number of our learning centers, the number and varieties of our courses and service offerings, our annual retention rate, our ability to attract new students and the effectiveness of our cross-selling efforts.
 
We have, over the past three fiscal years, opened new learning centers to further penetrate our existing markets and enter new markets. The number of our learning centers grew from 30 in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan as of February 29, 2008, to 109 in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan to date. We plan to open additional learning centers in these six cities and explore opportunities to open learning centers in other targeted geographic markets in China in order to continue to attract new student enrollments.
 
In addition, we have significantly expanded our course offerings to cover new subjects and additional grade levels over the past three fiscal years. In Beijing, we grew from primarily offering tutoring classes in mathematics to becoming a comprehensive after-school tutoring service provider, covering all core subjects in China’s school curricula at each grade level of the K-12 system. We initially offered only small-class tutoring services, and then added personalized premium services in September 2007 and began offering online courses in January 2010. Our expansion of courses and service offerings allows us to better attract new students with different needs and provide us greater cross-selling opportunities with respect to our existing students.
 
To date, we have enjoyed a high annual retention rate of over 70%, as a result of our high quality services. A high annual retention rate coupled with our ability to cross-sell additional courses and service offerings to existing students has also contributed to our total student enrollment growth.
 
We expect our student enrollments will continue to grow and the tuition fees will remain relatively stable in the near term. We raised the hourly rates of our courses in the summer of 2010 and have no immediate plan for further increases. We believe that the K-12 after-school tutoring service market is not very sensitive to changes in economic conditions, and we therefore do not expect the current economic conditions to have any significant impact on our business.
 
Pricing
 
Our results of operations are also affected by the pricing for our tutoring services. We generally charge students based on the hourly rates of our courses and the total number of hours for all the courses taken by each student. We determine hourly rates for our courses primarily based on the demand for our courses, cost of our services, the geographic markets where the courses are offered, and the fees charged by our competitors for the same or similar courses. Due to our high quality services and the outstanding performance track record of our students, we have been able to price above the market rates and increase our hourly rates in fiscal years 2009 and 2011.
 
Costs and Expenses
 
Our ability to maintain and increase profitability also depends on our ability to effectively control our costs and expenses. A significant component of our cost of revenues is compensation to our teachers. We offer competitive remunerations to our teachers in order to attract and retain top teaching talent. Salaries and other compensation to our teachers accounted for approximately 25% of our net revenues in each of the two most recent fiscal years and 23% of our net revenues for the six months ended August 31, 2010. Another important
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component of our cost of revenues is rental expenses for our learning and service centers, which have remained stable at approximately 14% of our net revenues in each of the two most recent fiscal years. Our cost of revenues as a percentage of our total net revenues was 49.2%, 49.5% and 54.1% for fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. This increase was largely a result of the rapid expansion of our facilities and network, including our additional investments in human resources, course materials and leasehold improvements in anticipation of further student enrollment growth. Our operating expenses include two key components, selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses. From fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2010, our total operating expenses as a percentage of our total net revenues decrease from 32.1% to 23.7%. During the same period, our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of our total net revenues increased from 4.2% to 8.1%, mainly due to the expansion of our sales and marketing personnel in anticipation of future student enrollment growth. This increase in selling and marketing expenses was offset by the significant decline of our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of our total net revenues from 27.9% in fiscal year 2008 to 15.6% in fiscal year 2010, primarily as a result of our increasing economies of scale and improved operating efficiency. For the six months ended August 31, 2010, our cost of revenues as a percentage of our total net revenues was 49.5%, and each of our total operating expenses, selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses as a percentage of our total net revenues was 22.6%, 7.9% and 14.7%, respectively. Going forward, we expect that our total costs and expenses will increase due to the expansion of our services and operations and additional costs and expenses associated with becoming a public company; however, such increase is likely to be partially offset by our increasing economies of scale and improved operating efficiency.
 
Key Components of Results of Operations
 
Net Revenues
 
In the fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010 and for the six months ended August 31, 2010, we generated total net revenues of $8.9 million, $37.5 million, $69.6 million and $53.0 million, respectively. We derive substantially all of our revenues from tutoring services, including small classes and personalized premium services. We also generate a small amount of revenues from selling educational materials to students at our learning centers and most recently, from our online course offerings. Revenues generated from our online course offerings contributed less than 1.5% of our total net revenues since we began offering online courses in 2010. Our revenues are presented net of business tax.
 
We generally collect course fees in advance, which we initially record as deferred revenues. We recognize course fees as revenues proportionately as the tutoring courses are delivered. We had deferred revenues in the amounts of $18.0 million, $29.4 million and $42.1 million as of February 28, 2009 and 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively.
 
For small-class courses consisting of more than seven classes per course, we offer tuition refunds for any remaining unattended classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course, provided that the course is less than two-thirds completed at the time of withdrawal. For personalized premium services, a student can withdraw at any time and receive a refund for the undelivered classes. Refunds are recorded as deductions to deferred revenues. We have not experienced significant refunds in the past.
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Cost of Revenues and Operating Expenses
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our cost of revenues and operating expenses, in absolute amounts and as percentages of the total net revenues:

 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	$	 	%	 	$	 	%	 	$	 	%	 	$	 	%	 	$	 	%	
 	 	(in thousands of $, except percentages)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	 	8,882	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	37,476	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	69,594	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	32,983	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	53,022	 	 	 	100.0	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total cost of revenues	 	 	(4,367	)	 	 	(49.2	)	 	 	(18,554	)	 	 	(49.5	)	 	 	(37,649	)	 	 	(54.1	)	 	 	(16,068	)	 	 	(48.7	)	 	 	(26,255	)(1)	 	 	(49.5	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing	 	 	(370	)	 	 	(4.2	)	 	 	(2,353	)	 	 	(6.3	)	 	 	(5,608	)	 	 	(8.1	)	 	 	(1,958	)	 	 	(5.9	)	 	 	(4,184	)(2)	 	 	(7.9	)	
General and administrative	 	 	(2,478	)	 	 	(27.9	)	 	 	(5,890	)	 	 	(15.7	)	 	 	(10,872	)	 	 	(15.6	)	 	 	(4,602	)	 	 	(14.0	)	 	 	(7,808	)(3)	 	 	(14.7	)	
Impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,615	)	 	 	(4.3	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	(2,848	)	 	 	(32.1	)%	 	 	(9,858	)	 	 	(26.3	)%	 	 	(16,480	)	 	 	(23.7	)%	 	 	(6,560	)	 	 	(19.9	)%	 	 	(11,992	)	 	 	(22.6	)%	

 
 	 	 	
 	 	Notes:	
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $110 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(2)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $163 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(3)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $647 thousand.	
 
Cost of Revenues
 
Our cost of revenues primarily consists of compensation to our teachers and rental payments for all of our learning centers and service centers, compensation to personnel providing educational service support, and to a lesser extent, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment used in the provision of educational services and costs of course materials. We expect our cost of revenues to increase as we further expand our network and operations by opening new learning centers and service centers and hiring additional teachers.
 
Operating Expenses
 
Our operating expenses consist primarily of selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses.
 
Our selling and marketing expenses primarily consist of compensation and benefits to our personnel involved in sales and marketing, as well as expenses relating to our marketing and branding promotion activities. Our selling and marketing expenses also include expenses associated with the development and maintenance of our online platform, www.eduu.com, which is a key component of our marketing strategy to increase student loyalty and stickiness, and enhance our brand awareness. As word-of-mouth referrals and our online communities have contributed significantly to student recruitment, we have not incurred significant advertising expenses in the past. In anticipation of future growth, we increased the number of personnel in our selling and marketing functions in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, resulting in an increase in selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues from 4.2% in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to 8.1% in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. Our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 7.9% for the six months ended August 31, 2010. We do not expect that our selling and marketing expenses will significantly increase as a percentage of net revenues in the near future.
 
Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of compensation and benefits paid to our management and administrative personnel, costs of third-party professional services, rental and utilities expenses relating to office and administrative functions and, to a lesser extent, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment used in our administrative activities. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of our total net revenues decreased from 27.9% in fiscal year 2008, to 15.7% in fiscal year 2009 and 15.6% in fiscal year 2010, primarily as a result of our increasing economies of scale and improved operating efficiency. For the six months ended August 31, 2010, our general and administrative expenses as a
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percentage of our total net revenues was 14.7%. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the near term as we hire additional personnel and incur additional expenses in connection with the expansion of our business operations, with becoming a publicly traded company, enhancing our internal controls and providing share-based compensation to our employees.
 
Taxation
 
Cayman Islands
 
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current law of the Cayman Islands, we are not subject to income or capital gains tax. In addition, dividend payments are not subject to withholding tax in the Cayman Islands.
 
Hong Kong
 
Our wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Xueersi Hong Kong, is subject to Hong Kong profits tax on its activities conducted in Hong Kong. No provision for Hong Kong Profits tax has been made in the consolidated financial statements as Xueersi Hong Kong has no assessable income for the years ended February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010.
 
PRC
 
Our subsidiaries in China are companies incorporated under PRC law and, as such, are subject to PRC enterprise income tax on their taxable income in accordance with the relevant PRC income tax laws.
 
Pursuant to the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate is generally applicable to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises, except where a special preferential rate applies.
 
Our affiliated entity, Xueersi Education, was qualified as a “High and New Technology Enterprise,” under the EIT Law effective January 1, 2008 and therefore was qualified for a preferential tax rate of 15%. In addition, since Xueersi Education is located in a high and new technology industrial zone in Beijing and qualified as a High and New Technology Enterprise, it was entitled to a three-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2006 to 2008 and a further tax reduction to a rate of 7.5% from calendar year 2009 to 2011. Our wholly owned subsidiary, TAL Beijing, was qualified as a “Newly Established Software Enterprise” under the EIT Law and therefore entitled to a two-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2009 to 2010 and a further tax reduction to 50% of the applicable rate from calendar year 2011 to 2013. Our affiliated entities, Xueersi Network and Beijing Haidian District Xueersi Training School, were entitled to a one-year tax exemption in calendar year 2007 as newly established companies in that year.
 
On April 21, 2010, the State Administration of Taxation issued Circular 157, Further Clarification on Implementation of Preferential EIT Rate during Transition Periods , or Circular 157. Circular 157 seeks to provide additional guidance on the interaction of certain preferential tax rates under the transitional rules of the EIT Law. Prior to Circular 157, we interpreted the law to mean that if a “high and new technology enterprise strongly supported by the state” or “High and New Technology Enterprise” was in a tax holiday period that provides for “2-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” or “5-year exemption plus 5-year half rate” or other tax exemptions and reductions, where it was entitled to a 50% reduction in the tax rate and was also entitled to a 15% rate of tax due to its High and New Technology Enterprise status under the EIT Law, then it was entitled to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Circular 157 appears to have the effect that such an entity is entitled to pay tax at the lower of 15% and 50% of the standard PRC tax rate, which is currently 25%. It is unclear whether Circular 157 would apply retrospectively but we understand that the State Administration of Taxation has recently taken the position that Circular 157 applies only to tax years commencing from January 1, 2010.
 
Based on the interpretation of Circular 157 from the relevant local tax authority, we believe that entities that are qualified for “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” tax holiday as High and New Technology
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Enterprises and are registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology Industrial Zone of Beijing will continue to pay income tax at a rate of 7.5%. Since Xueersi Education enjoys “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” and is a High and New Technology Enterprise registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology Industrial Zone of Beijing, we do not believe that Circular 157 has any effect on our tax position.
 
Preferential tax treatments granted to our affiliated entities in the PRC by local governmental authorities are subject to review and may be adjusted or revoked at any time. In addition, if the government regulations or authorities were to phase out preferential tax benefits currently granted to a “High and New Technology Enterprise,” Xueersi Education would be subject to the standard statutory tax rate, which currently is 25%. The discontinuation of any preferential tax treatments currently available to us, will cause our effective tax rate to increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
As a Cayman Islands holding company, substantially all of our income is derived from dividends we receive from our PRC operating subsidiaries through Xueersi Hong Kong. The EIT Law and its implementing rules provide that dividends paid by a PRC entity to a non-resident enterprise for income tax purposes is subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, subject to reduction by an applicable tax treaty with the PRC. According to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, dividends paid to shareholders residing in Hong Kong are subject to a reduced 5% rate of tax withholding provided the Hong Kong residents’ equity interests in the mainland dividend issuer is above 25%. However, the State Administration for Taxation promulgated SAT Circular 601 on October 27, 2009, which provides guidance for determining whether a resident of a contracting state is the “beneficial owner” of an item of income under China’s tax treaties and tax arrangements. According to SAT Circular 601, a beneficial owner generally must engage in substantive business activities. An agent or conduit company will not be regarded as a beneficial owner and, therefore, will not qualify for treaty benefits. A conduit company normally refers to a company that is set up for the purpose of avoiding or reducing taxes or transferring or accumulating profits. Although we may use Xueersi Hong Kong as a platform to expand our business in the future, Xueersi Hong Kong currently does not engage in any substantive business activities and thus it is possible that Xueersi Hong Kong may not be regarded as a “beneficial owner” for the purposes of SAT Circular 601 and the dividends it receives from our PRC subsidiaries would be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%. In addition, Xueersi Hong Kong may be considered a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine that Xueersi Hong Kong’s “de facto management bodies” are within the PRC, in which case dividends received by it from our PRC subsidiaries would be exempt from PRC withholding tax because such income is exempted under the EIT Law for a PRC resident enterprise recipient. As there remains uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of the EIT Law and its implementation rules, it is uncertain whether, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, any dividends to be distributed by us to our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders would be subject to any PRC withholding tax. For a detailed discussion of PRC tax issues related to resident enterprise status, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Under the EIT Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of China. Such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.”
 
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
In the course of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified a material weakness as defined in the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Standard AU Section 325, Communicating Internal Control Related Matters Identified in an Audit, or AU325, in our internal control over financial reporting as of February 28, 2010. As defined in AU325, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness identified related to insufficient accounting personnel with appropriate U.S. GAAP knowledge. Following the
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identification of the material weakness, we hired a chief financial officer with publicly listed company and securities regulation experience in June 2010.
 
Neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm undertook a comprehensive assessment of our internal control for purposes of identifying and reporting material weakness and other control deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting as we and they will be required to do once we become a public company. It is possible that, had we performed a formal assessment of our internal control over financial reporting or had our independent registered public accounting firm performed an audit of our internal control over financial reporting, additional control deficiencies may have been identified.
 
We plan to take additional measures to improve our internal control over financial reporting in 2011 and 2012, including (1) hiring additional accounting personnel with extensive experience in U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements and strong analytical skills; (2) providing regular training on an ongoing basis to our accounting personnel that cover a broad range of accounting and financial reporting topics; and (3) developing a more comprehensive manual with detailed step by step guidance on accounting policies and procedures and continuing to update the manual as needed. We are not able to estimate with reasonable certainty the costs that we will need to incur to implement these and other measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—In the course of preparing our consolidated financial statements, a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting was identified. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.”
 
Acquisitions
 
Although we have expanded our business operations primarily through organic growth, we made five small business acquisitions in selected new geographic markets in 2008 to take advantage of the targets’ existing student base and operating licenses. The five acquisitions were: (i) the purchase of assets and related business of a school in Tianjin in March 2008 for consideration of $0.2 million; (ii) the acquisition of a school in Jianli, Hubei Province in July 2008 for consideration $0.2 million; (iii) the acquisition of a school in Qianjiang, Hubei Province in July 2008 for consideration $0.2 million; (iv) the acquisition of a school in Wuhan, Hubei Province in July 2008 for consideration $1.6 million; and (v) the acquisition of Shanghai Lehai and its 100% owned subsidiaries in Shanghai in August 2008 for total consideration of $1.0 million.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reporting of, among other things, assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities and net revenues and expenses. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experiences and other factors that we believe to be relevant under the circumstances. Our management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these estimates with our board of directors. Since our financial reporting process inherently relies on the use of estimates and assumptions, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
An accounting policy is considered to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that could reasonably have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. We consider the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our audited consolidated financial statements because they involve the greatest reliance on our management’s judgment. You should read the following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included with this prospectus.
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Revenue recognition
 
We derive substantially all of our revenues from tutoring services, including small classes, personalized premium services and online education services.
 
A student subscribes for a course containing a fixed number of classes. A typical course consists of 15 to 16 classes during each of the school semesters and 7 to 12 classes during each of the summer and winter breaks. Tuition revenue is generally collected in advance and is initially recorded as deferred revenue. Tuition revenue is then recognized proportionately as the tutoring classes are delivered.
 
For small-class courses consisting of more than seven classes per course, we offer refunds for any remaining classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course, provided the course is less than two-thirds completed at the time of withdrawal. After two-thirds of a course is delivered, no refund is allowed. For small-class courses with less than seven classes, no refund will be provided after the commencement of the courses. For personalized premium services, a student can withdraw at any time and receive a refund for the undelivered classes. We have not experienced significant refunds in the past.
 
We offer coupons to attract both existing and prospective students to enroll in our courses. The coupon has a fixed dollar amount and can only be redeemed against a future course. The coupon value, when utilized by an enrolling student, is accounted for as a reduction of revenue when the relevant revenue is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
We sell educational materials to students at our learning centers. Revenue is recognized when the educational content or other educational materials are delivered and collection of the receivables is reasonably assured.
 
We began to offer online courses to students in 2010. Students enroll in online courses through the use of prepaid study cards. The proceeds collected from the online courses are initially recorded as deferred revenues. Revenues are recognized on a straight line basis over the subscription period from the date when the students activate the courses to the date when the subscribed courses end. We provide refunds for courses that are not taken to students who decide to withdraw from the subscribed courses within the course offer period, which generally ranges from one month to six months.
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill represents the cost of an acquired business in excess of the fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible net assets purchased. We generally seek the assistance of independent valuation firms in determining the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible net assets of the acquired business. We assign all the assets and liabilities of an acquired business, including goodwill, to reporting units.
 
There are several methods that can be used to determine the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. For intangible assets, we typically use the income method. This method starts with a forecast of all of the expected future net cash flows associated with a particular intangible asset. These cash flows are then adjusted to present value by applying an appropriate discount rate that reflects the risk factors associated with the cash flow streams. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the income method or other methods include the amount and timing of projected future cash flows; the discount rate selected to measure the risks inherent in the future cash flows; and the assessment of the asset’s economic life cycle and the competitive trends impacting the asset, including consideration of any technical, legal, regulatory or economic barriers to entry. Determining the useful life of an intangible asset also requires judgment as different types of intangible assets will have different useful lives and certain assets may even be considered to have indefinite useful lives.
 
Goodwill is tested for impairment at least once each year on the last day of February. Impairment is tested using a two-step process. The first step compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to
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accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill.
 
Estimating fair value is performed by utilizing various valuation techniques, with the primary technique being the discounted cash flow method.
 
We currently have 14 reporting units and only five reporting units carry assigned goodwill: Wuhan Jianghanqu Xiaoxinxing English Training School (“Wuhan School”), Hubei Qianjiang Xiaohafu English Training School (“Qianjiang School”), Hubei Jianli Hafu English Training School (“Jianli School”), Shanghai Lehai Science and Technology Information Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Lehai”), and Xueersi Education.
 
We recorded an impairment of goodwill of approximately $1.2 million in the year ended February 28, 2009 in respect of Wuhan School and Qianjiang School because the post-acquisition performance of these reporting units was not in line with our expectations at the date of acquisition. We used the income approach as the primary approach in determining the impairment of goodwill on these reporting units as of February 28, 2009, and relied in part on a valuation report prepared by American Appraisal China Limited based on data we provided.
 
The projected cash flow estimate included, among other things, an analysis of projected revenue growth, gross margins, and long-term growth rates. The income approach involves applying appropriate discount rates, based on earnings forecasts, to estimated cash flows. The key assumptions of our cash flow forecasts we used in deriving the fair values of these two reporting units as of February 28, 2009 were consistent with the assumptions that we used in developing our business plan, which included:

 	•  	Net revenues of Wuhan School and Qianjiang School would grow at a CAGR of 10.4% and 9.4%, respectively, from 2009 to 2014 primarily through an increase in the number of students. The long-term growth rate of Wuhan School and Qianjiang School after 2014 was assumed to be 3% per year.	
 	 	 	
 	•  	Cost of revenues mainly consists of teacher salary and welfare, rent, and tutoring materials. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues of Wuhan School was expected to decrease from 91% in 2009 to 62% of sales in 2014 because staff cost and rental would not grow as fast as revenues. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues of Qianjiang School was expected to increase from 53% in 2009 to 60% of sales in 2014.	
 	 	 	
 	•  	Operating expenses as a percentage of revenues were expected to decrease from 2009 to 2014 as we anticipated that corporate overhead and administrative expense would not increase as fast as revenues during the period due to the improvement of operating efficiency.	
 	 	 	
 	•  	There would be no material changes in the existing political, legal, fiscal and economic conditions in China and in our ability to recruit and retain competent management, key personnel and technical staff to support our ongoing operations.	
 	 	 	
 	•  	There was no material deviation in industry trends and market conditions from economic forecasts.	
 
These assumptions are inherently uncertain and subjective. The discount rates reflect the risks the management perceived as being associated with achieving the forecasts and are based on the estimated cost of capital of our reporting units, which was derived by using the capital asset pricing model, after taking into account systemic risks and non-systematic risks. The capital asset pricing model is a model commonly used by market participants for determining the fair values of assets that adds an assumed risk premium rate of return to an assumed risk-free rate of return. Using this method, we determined the discount rates of 20% and 30% to be appropriate for determining the fair values of Wuhan School and Qianjiang School. We considered the selected discount rates to properly reflect the uncertainty associated with the key assumptions of projected cash flows of these two reporting units as of February 28, 2009.
 
We evaluate intangible assets with a finite useful life impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets
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to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If these assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Estimates of fair value result from a complex series of judgments about future events and uncertainties and rely heavily on estimates and assumptions at a point in time. The judgments made in determining an estimate of fair value can materially impact our results of operations. The valuations are based on information available as of the impairment review date and are based on expectations and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management. Any changes in key assumptions, including unanticipated events and circumstances, may affect the accuracy or validity of such estimates and could potentially result in an impairment charge.
 
In the year ended February 28, 2009, we tested for impairment of the intangible and other long-lived assets recognized primarily in respect of Wuhan School and Qianjiang School because, as noted above, the performance of these acquisitions was not in line with our expectations. As a result, we recognized an impairment loss on intangible assets of $0.4 million.
 
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Investment in Available for Sale Securities
 
We value available for sale securities at fair value and take the unrealized changes in fair value to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, a component of equity. However, when an investment has a fair value below its original costs we are required to determine whether that impairment is other-than-temporary and, if so, it is required to be recognized in earnings. Determination of whether an impairment is other-than-temporary involves management’s judgment as to the severity and duration of the decline in fair value. As at February 28, 2009, we had available for sale securities with the carrying value of $0.7 million and which then had a fair value of $0.3 million as at February 28, 2010. We determined that in the market conditions at that time there could be no assurance as to when and if the fair value would recover and consequently recognized an impairment loss in earnings of $0.4 million.
 
Income Taxes
 
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves us estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a certain period, we must include an expense within the tax provision in the statement of operations.
 
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance is based on our estimates of taxable income by jurisdiction in which we operate and the period over which our deferred tax assets will be recoverable. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or we adjust these estimates in future periods, we may need to establish an additional valuation allowance, which could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.
 
The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes. The Group has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in financial statements for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010. The Group did not incur any interest and penalties related to potential underpaid income tax expenses and also does not anticipate any significant increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. The Group has no material
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unrecognized tax benefits which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods. The years 2007 to 2009 remain subject to examination by the PRC tax authorities.
 
Our affiliated entity, Xueersi Education, was qualified as a “High and New Technology Enterprise,” under the EIT Law effective January 1, 2008 and therefore was qualified for a preferential tax rate of 15%. In addition, since Xueersi Education is located in a high and new technology industrial zone in Beijing and qualified as a High and New Technology Enterprise, it was entitled to a three-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2006 to 2008 and a further tax reduction to a rate of 7.5% from calendar year 2009 to 2011. Our wholly owned subsidiary, TAL Beijing, was qualified as a “Newly Established Software Enterprise” under the EIT Law and therefore entitled to a two-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2009 to 2010 and a further tax reduction to 50% of the applicable rate from calendar year 2011 to 2013. Our affiliated entities, Xueersi Network and Beijing Haidian District Xueersi Training School, were entitled to a one-year tax exemption in calendar year 2007 as newly established companies in that year.
 
On April 21, 2010, the State Administration of Taxation issued Circular 157, Further Clarification on Implementation of Preferential EIT Rate during Transition Periods , or Circular 157. Circular 157 seeks to provide additional guidance on the interaction of certain preferential tax rates under the transitional rules of the EIT Law. Prior to Circular 157, we interpreted the law to mean that if a “high and new technology enterprise strongly supported by the state” or “High and New Technology Enterprise” was in a tax holiday period that provides for “2-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” or “5-year exemption plus 5-year half rate” or other tax exemptions and reductions, where it was entitled to a 50% reduction in the tax rate and was also entitled to a 15% rate of tax due to its High and New Technology Enterprise status under the EIT Law, then it was entitled to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Circular 157 appears to have the effect that such an entity is entitled to pay tax at the lower of 15% and 50% of the standard PRC tax rate, which is currently 25%. It is unclear as to whether Circular 157 would apply retrospectively but we understand that the State Administration of Taxation has recently taken the position that Circular 157 applies only to tax years commencing from January 1, 2010.
 
Based on the interpretation of Circular 157 from the relevant local tax authority, we believe that entities that are qualified for “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” tax holiday as High and New Technology Enterprises and are registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology Industrial Zone of Beijing will continue to pay income tax at a rate of 7.5%. Since Xueersi Education enjoys “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” and is a High and New Technology Enterprise registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology Industrial Zone of Beijing, we do not believe that Circular 157 has any effect on our tax position.
 
Uncertainties exist with respect to how the EIT Law applies to our overall operations, and more specifically, with regard to our tax residency status. The EIT Law includes a provision specifying that legal entities organized outside of the PRC will be considered residents for PRC income tax purposes if their “de facto management bodies” are within the PRC. The Implementation Rules define the term “de facto management bodies” as “establishments that carry out substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc. of an enterprise.” Despite the present uncertainties resulting from the limited PRC tax guidance on the issue, we do not believe that our legal entities organized outside of the PRC should be treated as residents under the EIT Law. Each of TAL Group and Xueersi Hong Kong is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As holding companies, these two entities’ key assets, which are essentially corporate documents and records, are located and maintained outside of the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a similar corporate structure as the Company’s ever having been deemed to be PRC “resident enterprises” by the PRC tax authorities. Therefore, we believe that neither TAL Group nor Xueersi Hong Kong should be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes. However, as the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities, there are uncertainties and risks associated with this issue. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Under the EIT Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of China. Such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.”
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Fair Value of Our Common Shares and Share-Based Compensation
 
In June 2010, we adopted the 2010 share incentive plan. The plan permits the grant of options to purchase Class A common shares, restricted shares, restricted share units, dividend equivalent rights and other awards as deemed appropriate by the administrator under the plan. The maximum aggregate number of Class A common shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under the plan is 18,750,000 Class A common shares. On July 26, 2010, we granted 5,419,500 restricted shares under this plan to some of our directors, executive officers and employees. These restricted shares will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set out in the respective restricted share agreements with the grantees, which ranges from one to four years.
 
We recognize share-based compensation expenses based on the fair value of equity awards on the date of the grant, using a straight-line method over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.
 
Prior to this offering, there have been no quoted market prices for our Class A common shares. We have therefore had to make an estimate of the fair value of our Class A common shares for the purposes of determining the fair value of our Class A common shares on the date of grant of share-based compensation awards to our employees.
 
The estimated fair value of our Class A common shares was $4.05 per share as of July 26, 2010.
 
Determining the fair value of our Class A common shares required us to make subjective judgments regarding our projected financial and operating results, our unique business risks, the liquidity of our Class A common shares and our operating history and prospects at the time the grants were made. The significant factors we considered include the following:

 	• 	our financial and operating results;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	the assumptions and basis of our financial projections;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	the nature of our business;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	the stage of development of our operations;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	our business plan;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	our business risks;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	the nature and prospects of the private education industry in China;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	the global economic outlook in general and the specific economic and competitive elements affecting our business, industry and market; and	
 	 	 	
 	• 	the market-derived investment returns of entities engaged in similar business.	
 
We principally used the market approach. We considered the assumed initial public offering price of $9.00 per ADS (or $4.50 per Class A common share), the midpoint of the range shown on the front cover page of this prospectus and applied discount for lack of marketability, or DLOM, to reflect the fact that there is no ready public market for our shares as we are a closely held private company. The DLOM of 10% applied for valuation of our Class A common shares as of July 26, 2010 was determined with the assistance of American Appraisal using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Under the option-pricing method, the cost of the put option, which can hedge the price change before the privately held shares can be sold, was considered as a basis to determine DLOM.
 
In addition, we made other assumptions in assessing the fair value of our Class A common shares, including the following:

 	• 	that no material change will occur in the applicable future periods in the existing political, legal, fiscal or economic conditions and in the education industry in China;	

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 	• 	that no material change will occur in the current PRC law applicable to us and the applicable tax rates will remain unchanged;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	that exchange rates and interest rates in the applicable future periods will not differ materially from the current rates;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	that our future growth will not be constrained by lack of funding;	
 	 	 	
 	• 	that we have the ability to retain competent management and key personnel to support our ongoing operations; and	
 	 	 	
 	• 	that industry trends and market conditions for the education and related industries will not deviate significantly from current forecasts.	
 
We have considered the guidance prescribed by the AICPA Audit and Accounting Practice Aid in determining the fair value of our Class A common shares as of July 26, 2010. A detailed description of the valuation method used in the fair value of our Class A common shares as of July 26, 2010 is set out above. Paragraph 113 of the Practice Aid states that “the ultimate IPO price itself also is generally not likely to be a reasonable estimate of the fair value for pre-IPO equity transactions of the enterprise.” We therefore believe the ultimate initial public offering price itself is generally not likely to be a reasonable estimate of the fair value of our Class A common shares as of July 26, 2010.
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Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated, both in absolute amounts and as percentages of our net revenues. This information should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The operating results in any period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.

 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	$	 	 	%	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
 	 	(in thousands of $, except percentages)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	8,882	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	$	37,476	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	$	69,594	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	$	32,983	 	 	 	100.0	 	 	$	53,022	 	 	 	100.0	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of revenues	 	 	(4,367	)	 	 	(49.2	)	 	 	(18,554	)	 	 	(49.5	)	 	 	(37,649	)	 	 	(54.1	)	 	 	(16,068	)	 	 	(48.7	)	 	 	(26,255	)(1)	 	 	(49.5	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	 	 	4,515	 	 	 	50.8	 	 	 	18,922	 	 	 	50.5	 	 	 	31,945	 	 	 	45.9	 	 	 	16,915	 	 	 	51.3	 	 	 	26,767	 	 	 	50.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing	 	 	(370	)	 	 	(4.2	)	 	 	(2,353	)	 	 	(6.3	)	 	 	(5,608	)	 	 	(8.1	)	 	 	(1,958	)	 	 	(5.9	)	 	 	(4,184	)(2)	 	 	(7.9	)	
General and administrative	 	 	(2,478	)	 	 	(27.9	)	 	 	(5,890	)	 	 	(15.7	)	 	 	(10,872	)	 	 	(15.6	)	 	 	(4,602	)	 	 	(14.0	)	 	 	(7,808	)(3)	 	 	(14.7	)	
Impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,615	)	 	 	(4.3	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	(2,848	)	 	 	(32.1	)	 	 	(9,858	)	 	 	(26.3	)	 	 	(16,480	)	 	 	(23.7	)	 	 	(6,560	)	 	 	(19.9	)	 	 	(11,992	)	 	 	(22.6	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from operations	 	 	1,667	 	 	 	18.7	 	 	 	9,064	 	 	 	24.2	 	 	 	15,465	 	 	 	22.2	 	 	 	10,355	 	 	 	31.4	 	 	 	14,775	 	 	 	27.9	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income, net	 	 	11	 	 	 	0.1	 	 	 	77	 	 	 	0.2	 	 	 	283	 	 	 	0.4	 	 	 	103	 	 	 	0.3	 	 	 	162	 	 	 	0.3	 	
Other expenses	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(210	)	 	 	(0.6	)	 	 	(124	)	 	 	(0.2	)	 	 	(119	)	 	 	(0.4	)	 	 	(27	)	 	 	(0.1	)	
Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(363	)	 	 	(1.0	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	6	 	 	 	0.0	 	
Gain on extinguishment of liabilities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	731	 	 	 	2.0	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income tax provision	 	 	1,678	 	 	 	18.8	 	 	 	9,299	 	 	 	24.8	 	 	 	15,624	 	 	 	22.4	 	 	 	10,339	 	 	 	31.3	 	 	 	14,916	 	 	 	28.1	 	
Provision for income tax	 	 	(165	)	 	 	(1.8	)	 	 	(2,018	)	 	 	(5.4	)	 	 	(1,379	)	 	 	(1.9	)	 	 	(912	)	 	 	(2.7	)	 	 	(1,670	)	 	 	(3.1	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	1,513	 	 	 	17.0	%	 	$	7,281	 	 	 	19.4	%	 	$	14,245	 	 	 	20.5	%	 	$	9,427	 	 	 	28.6	%	 	$	13,246	 	 	 	25.0	%	

 
 	 	 	
 	 	Notes:	
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $110 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(2)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $163 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(3)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $647 thousand.	
 
Six Months Ended August 31, 2010 Compared to Six Months Ended August 31, 2009
 
Net Revenues
 
Our total net revenues increased by 60.8% from $33.0 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $53.0 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. This increase was primarily due to the additional student enrollments in our newly opened learning centers and increased student enrollments in our existing learning centers. The number of total student enrollments grew from 175,638 for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to 236,919 for the six months ended August 31, 2010, while the number of learning centers increased from 83 as of August 31, 2009 to 108 as of August 31, 2010.
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Cost of Revenues
 
Our cost of revenues increased by 63.4% from $16.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $26.3 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in our rental payments as we leased facilities for 108 learning centers and 86 service centers as of August 31, 2010, as compared to 83 learning centers and 65 service centers as of August 31, 2009. Also contributing to the increase of our cost of revenues included an increase in aggregate compensation paid to our full-time teachers as the number of full-time teachers increased from 631 as of August 31, 2009 to 1,067 as of August 31, 2010. This increased compensation to full-time teachers was partially offset by the decrease of the number of contract teachers from 2,587 as of August 31, 2009 to 1,455 as August 31, 2010. In addition, compensation paid to personnel providing educational service support increased as a result of the increase of such personnel from 730 as of August 31, 2009 to 912 as of August 31, 2010. The increase in our cost of revenues was also attributable to share-based compensation expenses and an increase in the cost of course materials, increased depreciation and amortization of property and equipment as a result of the expansion of our learning centers and service centers and our continued efforts to upgrade our classroom facilities and technology systems. The amount of share-based compensation expenses included in the cost of revenues for the six months ended August 31, 2010 was $110 thousand, compared to nil for the six months ended August 31, 2009.
 
Gross Profit
 
As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit increased by 58.2% from $16.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $26.8 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. Our gross profit margin was 50.5% for the six months ended August 31, 2010, as compared to 51.3% for the six months ended August 31, 2009.
 
Operating Expenses
 
Our operating expenses increased by 82.8% from $6.6 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $12 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. This increase resulted from increases in both our selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses and, in particular, a $0.8 million share-based compensation charge.
 
Selling and Marketing Expenses.  Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 113.7% from $2.0 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $4.2 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. This increase was primarily due to the related increase in compensation, office rental expenses and office expenses for an expanded sales and marketing force and, to a lesser extent, a share-based compensation charge of $163 thousand.
 
General and Administrative Expenses.  Our general and administrative expenses increased by 69.7% from $4.6 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $7.8 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase of 117 employees for our corporate and administrative functions to support our expanded operations and, to a lesser extent, a share-based compensation charge of $647 thousand.
 
Interest Income, Net
 
We had net interest income of $0.2 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010, compared to $0.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009. Our interest income in both years consisted of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents deposited in commercial banks, which, in the case of our net interest income for the six months ended August 31, 2010, was partially offset by the interest expenses incurred with respect to a convertible loan we borrowed in January 2010 and with respect to our acquisition payables.
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Other Expenses, Net
 
We had other expenses of $27,000 for the six months ended August 31, 2010, compared to $0.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009. Our expenses in both periods were primarily attributable to our charitable donations to promote public education in rural areas.
 
Gain from Sales of Available-for-Sale Securities
 
We recognized a $6,000 gain from sales of available-for-sale securities for the six months ended August 31, 2010 related to disposal of certain available-for-sale securities in the open market, which we bought in December 2009.
 
Provision for Income Tax
 
Our provision for income tax increased by 83.1% from $0.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $1.7 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010, primarily due to the increase in our taxable income and a higher effective income tax rate for the six months ended August 31, 2010. Our effective income rate was 11.2% in the six months ended August 31, 2010, compared to 8.8% in the six months ended August 31, 2009.
 
Net Income
 
As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased by 40.5% from $9.4 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009 to $13.2 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010.
 
Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 2010 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 2009
 
Net Revenues
 
Our total net revenues increased by 85.7% from $37.5 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $69.6 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. This increase was primarily due to additional student enrollments in our newly opened learning centers and increased student enrollments in our existing learning centers in fiscal year 2010. The number of total student enrollments grew from 215,080 as of February 28, 2009 to 382,505 as of February 28, 2010, while the number of learning centers increased from 73 to 98 during the same period.
 
Cost of Revenues
 
Our cost of revenues increased by 102.9% from $18.6 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $37.6 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in aggregate compensation paid to teachers as the number of our full-time teachers increased by 284 and the number of our contract teachers increased by 406 during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, and an increase in our rental payments as we leased facilities for 98 learning centers and 80 service centers as of February 28, 2010, as compared to 73 learning centers and 54 service centers as of February 28, 2009. The increase was also due to the compensation increase attributable to our hiring of 303 additional personnel providing educational service support and the increase in the cost of course materials for some of our English courses. The increase was also attributable to the increased depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, which is a result of the expansion of our learning centers and services and our continual efforts to upgrade our classroom facilities technology systems.
 
Gross Profit
 
As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit increased by 68.8% from $18.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $31.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. Our gross profit margin was 45.9% for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, which decreased from 50.5% for the previous fiscal year. The decrease in our gross profit margin in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 was primarily due to the investments we made during the period in anticipation of further growth in student enrollments. We
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generally need to hire and train educational service support personnel and incur leasehold improvement and other costs ahead of the expected ramp-up in student enrollments at our new or expanded learning centers.
 
Operating Expenses
 
Our operating expenses increased by 67.2% from $9.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $16.5 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. This increase resulted from increases in both our selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, partially offset by the elimination of impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill.
 
Selling and Marketing Expenses.  Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 138.3% from $2.4 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $5.6 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of our sales and marketing personnel by 213 to support our selling and marketing efforts, as well as the expenses incurred relating to an outdoor advertisement campaign to promote our personalized premium services.
 
General and Administrative Expenses.  Our general and administrative expenses increased by 84.6% from $5.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $10.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of employees for our corporate and administrative functions by 177 to support our expanded operations, rental expenses for increased office space for general corporate and administrative related functions and, to a lesser degree, professional service fees accrued during fiscal year 2010.
 
Impairment Losses on Intangible Assets and Goodwill.  We recognized nil impairment loss on goodwill in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. In the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, we recognized impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill of $1.6 million relating to our acquisitions of two schools in the period.
 
Interest Income, net
 
We had an interest income, net of $0.3 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, compared to $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. Our interest income, net in both years consisted of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents deposited in commercial banks, partially offset by the interest expense incurred with respect to a convertible loan we borrowed in January 2010 and the interest expense of our acquisition payables.
 
Other Expenses
 
We had other expenses of $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, compared to $0.2 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. Our other expenses in fiscal year 2010 were primarily attributable to our charity donations to promote public education in rural areas. Our other expenses in fiscal year 2009 were primarily attributable to our charity donations to Sichuan earthquake relief funds.
 
Impairment Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
We recognized a $0.4 million impairment loss on available-for-sale securities for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 due to a decline in the fair value other than temporary impairment of our investment in certain available-for-sale securities, as compared to nil for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010.
 
Gain on Extinguishment of Liabilities
 
We recognized a $0.7 million gain on extinguishment of liabilities for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 as a result of a renegotiation of the acquisition payable relating to the Wuhan School from $1.6 million to $0.9 million. We had nil gain on extinguishment of liabilities for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010.
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Provision for Income Tax
 
Our provision for income tax decreased by 31.7% from $2.0 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $1.4 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, primarily due to our lower effective income tax rate of 8.8% in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, compared to 21.7% in the prior fiscal year. We had a lower effective income tax rate in the fiscal year 2010 because of the preferential tax treatments received by one of wholly owned subsidiaries and one of our consolidated affiliated entities in China during the period.
 
Net Income
 
As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased by 95.7% from $7.3 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 to $14.2 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010.
 
Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 2009 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended February 29, 2008
 
Net Revenues
 
Our total net revenues increased by 321.9% from $8.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $37.5 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. This increase was primarily attributable to additional student enrollments at our new learning centers and increased student enrollments at our existing learning centers. The number of total student enrollments grew from 67,996 in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to 215,080 in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, and the number of learning centers increased from 30 to 73 during the same period. The increase in net revenue was also attributable to the fact that we increased the hourly rates for our courses during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009.
 
Cost of Revenues
 
Our cost of revenues increased by 324.9% from $4.4 million for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $18.6 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. This increase was primarily due to the increase in the aggregate compensation paid to teachers as the number of our full-time teachers increased by 287 and the number of our contract teachers increased by 482 during fiscal year 2009 and an increase in our rental expenses as we leased facilities for 73 learning centers and 51 service centers as of February 28, 2009, as compared to 30 learning centers and 26 service centers as of February 29, 2008.
 
Gross Profit
 
As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit increased by 319.1% from $4.5 million for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $18.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. Our gross profit margin was 50.5% for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, which was slightly decreased from 50.8% for the previous fiscal year.
 
Operating Expenses
 
Our operating expenses increased by 246.1% from $2.8 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $9.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. This increase resulted from increases in all of our operating expense line items.
 
Selling and Marketing Expenses.  Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 535.6% from $0.4 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $2.4 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of our sales and marketing personnel by 141 in connection with the expansion of our selling and marketing efforts.
 
General and Administrative Expenses.  Our general and administrative expenses increased by 137.7% from $2.5 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $5.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009. This increase was also due to an increase in the number of employees for our corporate and administrative functions by 196 to support our expanded operations in fiscal year 2009.
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Impairment Losses on Intangible Assets and Goodwill.  We recognized nil impairment loss on goodwill in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. In the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, we recognized impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill of $1.6 million relating to our acquisitions of two schools during that fiscal year.
 
Interest Income, net
 
We had interest income, net of $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, compared to $10,000 for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. Our interest income, net in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 consisted of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents deposited in commercial banks, partially offset by the interest expense incurred for our payable for acquisition. Our interest income, net in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 consisted of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents deposited in commercial banks.
 
Other Expenses
 
We had other expenses of $0.2 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, compared to nil for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. Our other expenses in fiscal year 2008 were primarily attributable to our charity donations to Sichuan earthquake relief funds.
 
Impairment Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
We recognized a $0.4 million impairment loss on available-for-sale securities for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 due to a decline in the fair value other-than-temporary impairment of our investment in certain available-for-sale securities of a mutual fund, as compared to nil for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.
 
Gain on Extinguishment of Liabilities
 
We recognized a $0.7 million gain on extinguishment of liabilities for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 as a result of renegotiation of the acquisition payable relating to the Wuhan School, which performed below expectation after the acquisition, from $1.6 million to $0.9 million. We had nil gain on extinguishment of liabilities for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.
 
Provision for Income Tax
 
Our provision for income tax increased from $0.2 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $2.0 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, due to the higher income taxes incurred in the fiscal year 2009 as a result of our increasing taxable income for the period, as well as our higher effective income tax rate of 21.7% in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009, compared to 9.8% in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.
 
Net Income
 
As a result of the above, our net income increased by 381.3% from $1.5 million for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $7.3 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009.
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Our Selected Quarterly Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated selected quarterly results of operations for the eight fiscal quarters ended August 31, 2010. You should read the following table in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared the unaudited consolidated financial information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for the quarters presented.

 	 	For the Three Months Ended	 	
 	 	November 30, 2008	 	 	February 28, 2009	 	 	May 31, 2009	 	 	August 31, 2009	 	 	November 30, 2009	 	 	February 28, 2010	 	 	May 31, 2010	 	 	August 31, 2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	 	 	 	 	% of Net
	 	
 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	 	$	 	 	Revenues	 	
 	 	(In thousands of $, except percentages)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	 	10,229	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	14,203	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	15,439	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	17,544	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	16,374	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	20,237	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	20,496	 	 	 	100.0	%	 	 	32,526	 	 	 	100.0	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of revenues(1)	 	 	(5,200	)	 	 	(50.8	)%	 	 	(7,057	)	 	 	(49.7	)%	 	 	(7,215	)	 	 	(46.7	)%	 	 	(8,853	)	 	 	(50.5	)%	 	 	(9,133	)	 	 	(55.8	)%	 	 	(12,448	)	 	 	(61.5	)%	 	 	(12,062	)	 	 	(58.9	)%	 	 	(14,193	)	 	 	(43.6	)%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	 	 	5,029	 	 	 	49.2	%	 	 	7,146	 	 	 	50.3	%	 	 	8,224	 	 	 	53.3	%	 	 	8,691	 	 	 	49.5	%	 	 	7,241	 	 	 	44.2	%	 	 	7,789	 	 	 	38.5	%	 	 	8,434	 	 	 	41.1	%	 	 	18,333	 	 	 	56.4	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing expenses (2)	 	 	(567	)	 	 	(5.6	)%	 	 	(855	)	 	 	(6.0	)%	 	 	(750	)	 	 	(4.9	)%	 	 	(1,209	)	 	 	(6.9	)%	 	 	(1,654	)	 	 	(10.1	)%	 	 	(1,996	)	 	 	(9.9	)%	 	 	(1,674	)	 	 	(8.1	)%	 	 	(2,510	)	 	 	(7.7	)%	
General and administrative expenses (3)	 	 	(1,803	)	 	 	(17.6	)%	 	 	(2,022	)	 	 	(14.2	)%	 	 	(2,223	)	 	 	(14.4	)%	 	 	(2,379	)	 	 	(13.5	)%	 	 	(3,075	)	 	 	(18.8	)%	 	 	(3,196	)	 	 	(15.8	)%	 	 	(3,752	)	 	 	(18.3	)%	 	 	(4,056	)	 	 	(12.5	)%	
Impairment loss on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	(1,615	)	 	 	(11.4	)%	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	(2,370	)	 	 	(23.2	)%	 	 	(4,492	)	 	 	(31.6	)%	 	 	(2,973	)	 	 	(19.3	)%	 	 	(3,588	)	 	 	(20.4	)%	 	 	(4,729	)	 	 	(28.9	)%	 	 	(5,192	)	 	 	(25.7	)%	 	 	(5,426	)	 	 	(26.4	)%	 	 	(6,566	)	 	 	(20.2	)%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from operations	 	 	2,659	 	 	 	26.0	%	 	 	2,654	 	 	 	18.7	%	 	 	5,251	 	 	 	34.0	%	 	 	5,103	 	 	 	29.1	%	 	 	2,512	 	 	 	15.3	%	 	 	2,597	 	 	 	12.8	%	 	 	3,008	 	 	 	14.7	%	 	 	11,767	 	 	 	36.2	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income, net	 	 	25	 	 	 	0.2	%	 	 	39	 	 	 	0.3	%	 	 	65	 	 	 	0.4	%	 	 	38	 	 	 	0.2	%	 	 	127	 	 	 	0.8	%	 	 	54	 	 	 	0.3	%	 	 	107	 	 	 	0.5	%	 	 	55	 	 	 	0.2	%	
Other expenses	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	(25	)	 	 	(0.2	)%	 	 	(80	)	 	 	(0.5	)%	 	 	(38	)	 	 	(0.2	)%	 	 	(6	)	 	 	(0.0	)%	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	(33	)	 	 	(0.1	)%	 	 	6	 	 	 	0.0	%	
Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	(363	)	 	 	(2.6	)%	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	6	 	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income tax provision	 	 	2,684	 	 	 	26.2	%	 	 	2,305	 	 	 	16.2	%	 	 	5,236	 	 	 	33.9	%	 	 	5,103	 	 	 	29.1	%	 	 	2,633	 	 	 	16.1	%	 	 	2,651	 	 	 	13.1	%	 	 	3,088	 	 	 	15.1	%	 	 	11,828	 	 	 	36.4	%	
Provision for income tax	 	 	(583	)	 	 	(5.7	)%	 	 	(499	)	 	 	(3.5	)%	 	 	(462	)	 	 	(3.0	)%	 	 	(450	)	 	 	(2.6	)%	 	 	(232	)	 	 	(1.4	)%	 	 	(234	)	 	 	(1.2	)%	 	 	(346	)	 	 	(1.7	)%	 	 	(1,324	)	 	 	(4.1	)%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	2,101	 	 	 	20.5	%	 	$	1,806	 	 	 	12.7	%	 	$	4,774	 	 	 	30.9	%	 	$	4,653	 	 	 	26.5	%	 	$	2,401	 	 	 	14.7	%	 	$	2,417	 	 	 	11.9	%	 	$	2,742	 	 	 	13.4	%	 	$	10,504	 	 	 	32.3	%	

 
Notes:

(1)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $110 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(2)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $163 thousand.	
 	 	 	
(3)	 	Includes share-based compensation expenses of $647 thousand.	

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Our revenues and operating results typically fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of seasonal characteristics in our business. Our courses tend to have the largest enrollments in our second and fourth fiscal quarters each year, largely because many primary, middle, and high school students have a greater opportunity to enroll in our courses during their summer and winter vacations which take place in these two quarters. From our inception in 2003 through fiscal year 2009, this seasonality of our business was not apparent as each quarter had greater revenues than the prior quarter due to the exceptionally rapid growth we experienced in those years.
 
Our costs and expenses do not necessarily correspond directly to changes in our student enrollments and net revenues. We make expenditures on facility expansion and enhancement, hiring and training of teachers, student service and support, development of course materials, and marketing throughout the year. In particular, we generally make more significant expenditures on building new learning and service centers in the second half of our fiscal years in anticipation of future growth. In conjunction with this investment in our learning and service centers, we also generally incur greater teacher, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses in the second half than in the first half of each fiscal year to support our overall business expansion.
 
Our quarterly results of operations in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011 were affected by the allocation of share-based compensation expenses for restricted shares granted in that quarter under our 2010 share incentive plan and we will continue to incur share-based compensation expenses in future quarters. Also, we generally pay annual bonuses to our teachers and other employees before the Chinese New Year in our fourth fiscal quarter, which impacts costs and expenses in this quarter.
 
We expect our quarterly results to continue to be influenced by seasonal enrollment trends and our business expansion strategy. Our quarterly results of operations may also vary in the future as a result of potentially different student enrollment trends for new courses, programs and services we may offer and decisions we may make about the optimal timing for both center expansion and tuition increases over the course of the year.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Cash Flows and Working Capital
 
Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash generated from operating activities and proceeds from the issuance and sale of Series A preferred shares. As of August 31, 2010, we had $81.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and we had no bank borrowings. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank deposits that are placed with banks and other financial institutions and which are either unrestricted as to withdrawal or use or have maturities of three months or less.
 
Although we consolidate the results of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries and schools, our access to cash balances or future earnings of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries and schools is only through our contractual arrangements with Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries and schools. See “Our Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Affiliated Entities.” For restrictions and limitations on liquidity and capital resources as a result of our corporate structure, see “—Holding Company Structure.”
 
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs, including our cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures, for at least the next 12 months.
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The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 	 	For the Year Ended February 29/28,	 	For the Six Months Ended August 31,	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	(in thousands of $)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	$	6,324	 	 	$	23,468	 	 	$	27,175	 	 	$	16,198	 	 	$	30,955	 	
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	 	 	(1,470	)	 	 	(5,116	)	 	 	(5,250	)	 	 	(696	)	 	 	(214	)	
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	 	 	132	 	 	 	5,252	 	 	 	(903	)	 	 	(1,622	)	 	 	(163	)	
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	 	 	315	 	 	 	385	 	 	 	37	 	 	 	26	 	 	 	165	 	
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	 	 	5,301	 	 	 	23,989	 	 	 	21,059	 	 	 	13,906	 	 	 	30,743	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	 	 	403	 	 	 	5,704	 	 	 	29,693	 	 	 	29,693	 	 	 	50,752	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	 	 	5,704	 	 	 	29,693	 	 	 	50,752	 	 	 	43,599	 	 	 	81,495	 	
 
Operating Activities
 
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $31.0 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010, as compared to $16.2 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended August 31, 2010 reflected net income of $13.2 million, adjusted by reconciliation items of $2.4 million, which included depreciation of property and equipment of $1.1 million, share-based compensation charge of $0.9 million and amortization of intangible assets of $0.4 million. Another major factor affecting operating cash flow for the six months ended August 31, 2010 included an increase in deferred revenues in the amount of $12.6 million due to the increased amount of course fees received during the period for courses that would continue into the second half of the year.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended August 31, 2009 reflected net income of $9.4 million, adjusted by a non-cash and non-operating charge of $0.7 million, which included depreciation of property and equipment of $0.4 million and amortization of intangible assets of $0.3 million. Additional major factors affecting operating cash flow for the six months ended August 31, 2009 included an increase in deferred revenues in the amount of $5.7 million due to the increased amount of course fees received during the period, an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the amount of $1.5 million in connection with accrued payroll and bonus and payable for business acquisitions.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $27.2 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, as compared to $23.5 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 and $6.3 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 reflected net income of $14.2 million, adjusted by a non-cash and non-operating charge of $2.1 million, which included depreciation of property and equipment of $1.3 million and amortization of intangible assets of $0.8 million. Additional major factors affecting operating cash flow in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 included an increase in deferred revenues in the amount of $11.3 million due to the increased amount of course fees received during the period, an increase in rental deposits in the amount of $1.2 million as a result of the additional premises we rented for our offices, learning centers and other services, an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the amount of $3.2 million in connection with accrued payroll and bonus and other taxes payables, and the decrease in our income tax payable in the amount of $2.1 million.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 reflected net income of $7.3 million, adjusted by a non-cash and non-operating charge of $2.3 million, which primarily included impairment of intangible assets and goodwill of $1.6 million in connection with two acquisitions we made during the period, amortization of intangible assets in the amount of $0.6 million mainly in connection with acquisitions of domain names, gain on extinguishment of liabilities in the amount of $0.7 million attributable to a waiver of the same amount of acquisition payables as a result of renegotiations with the seller in one of our acquisitions. Additional major factors affecting operating cash flow in the fiscal year ended February 28,
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2009 included an increase in the amount of $12.0 million paid upfront by the students due to the increased amount of course fees received during the period, the increase in our income tax payable in the amount of $2.3 million and an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the amount of $1.8 million in connection with accrued payroll and bonus and payable for business acquisitions.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 was primarily attributable to net income of $1.5 million, and an increase in deferred revenues in the amount of $3.7 million due to the increased amount of course fees received during the period.
 
Investing Activities
 
We lease all of our facilities. Our cash used in investing activities is primarily related to leasehold improvements, investments in equipment, technology and operating systems, investments in certain available-for-sale securities, intangible assets and acquisitions.
 
Net cash used in investing activities amounted to $0.2 million for the six months ended August 31, 2010, as compared to net cash used in investing activities in the amount of $0.7 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009.
 
Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended August 31, 2010 primarily related to leasehold improvements and purchases of equipment in the amount of $1.7 million in connection with the expansion of our network of learning centers and service centers, partially offset by our sale of available-for-sale securities we bought in December 2009 for proceeds of $1.5 million.
 
Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended August 31, 2009 primarily related to leasehold improvements and purchases of equipment in the amount of $0.7 million in connection with the expansion of our network of learning centers and service centers.
 
Net cash used in investing activities amounted to $5.3 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, as compared to $5.1 million and $1.5 million in the fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009, respectively.
 
Net cash used in investing activities in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 primarily related to (i) leasehold improvements and purchases of equipment in the amount of $3.8 million in connection with the expansion of our network of learning centers and service centers, and (ii) our investment in the securities of a mutual fund in the amount of $1.5 million.
 
Net cash used in investing activities in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 primarily related to (i) leasehold improvements and purchases of equipment in the amount of $2.1 million in connection with the expansion of our network of learning centers and service centers, (ii) our acquisitions in separate transactions from unrelated third-parties in the amount of $1.6 million, and (iii) our purchase of intangible assets in the amount of $1.4 million in connection with the purchase of several domain names from unrelated third-parities.
 
Net cash used in investing activities in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 mainly related to (i) our investment in certain available-for-sale securities in the amount of $0.7 million, (ii) leasehold improvements and purchases of equipment in the amount of $0.5 million in connection with the expansion of our network of learning centers and service centers, and (iii) our purchase of intangible assets in the amount of $0.3 million in connection with the purchase of several domain names from unrelated third parities.
 
Financing Activities
 
Our financing activities consisted of issuance and sale of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares to investors, a convertible loan, capital contributions from our founding shareholders, distributions to shareholders and acquisitions.
 
Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended August 31, 2010 amounted to $0.2 million, as compared to net cash used in financing activities in the amount of $1.6 million for the six months ended August 31, 2009. Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended August 31, 2010 was
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primarily related to payment of certain deferred consideration in connection with our acquisition activities. Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended August 31, 2009 was attributable to a distribution to our shareholders.
 
Net cash used in financing activities amounted to $0.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, as compared to net cash provided by financing activities in the amount of $5.3 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 and net cash provided by financing activities in the amount of $0.1 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. Net cash used in financing activities in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 was primarily attributable to the distribution payment by our consolidated affiliated entity in the amount of $1.4 million to its shareholders in connection with our corporate reorganization, our acquisition activities in the amount of $0.2 million, partially offset by the $0.5 million proceeds from a convertible loan and $0.2 million of capital contributions by our founding shareholders. Net cash provided by financing activities in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 was primarily attributable to the proceeds from our issuance and sale of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares in the amount of $4.9 million and capital contributions by our founding shareholders in the amount of $0.4 million. Net cash used in financing activities in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 was primarily attributable to capital contributions by our founding shareholders in the amount of $0.1 million.
 
Capital Expenditures
 
Our capital expenditures are incurred primarily in connection with leasehold improvements, investments in computers, network equipment and software and business acquisitions. Our capital expenditures were $0.8 million, $5.1 million and $3.8 million in the fiscal years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010. We expect to incur capital expenditures up to $10 million in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2011 in connection with our planned investments in facilities, equipment, technology and operating systems to meet the expected growth of our operations. We also expect to incur additional costs in connection with our becoming a public company, including costs to prepare for our first Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 404 compliance testing and additional compliance costs associated with being a public company. We are not able to estimate with reasonable certainty these additional expenses but expect that the additional costs will not exceed $2 million in the next two years. We intend to continue to utilize real estate leasing in order to allocate our capital resources cost-efficiently. We may make acquisitions of businesses and properties that complement our operations when suitable opportunities arise.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of February 28, 2010:

 	 	Payment due by period	 	
 	 	Total	 	 	Less than 1 year	 	 	1-3 years	 	 	3-5 years	 	 	More than 5 years	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	(in thousand $)	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating lease obligations (1)	 	$	42,674	 	 	 	13,155	 	 	 	20,159	 	 	 	9,347	 	 	 	13	 	
Acquisition payables(2)	 	 	513	 	 	 	513	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Convertible loan(3)	 	 	500	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	500	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	Notes:	
 	 	 	
(1)	 	Represents our non-cancelable leases for our offices, learning centers and service centers.	
 	 	 	
(2)	 	Represents outstanding consideration payable in connection with our acquisitions of Tianjin Education, Jianli School, Qianjiang School and Wuhan School as of February 28, 2010. $240,198 in acquisition cash consideration payable for the acquisition of Tianjin Education and Wuhan School was outstanding as of August 31, 2010.	
 	 	 	
(3)	 	Represents the principal amount due to a third party pursuant to a convertible loan. The convertible loan has a principal amount of $500,000, bears an annual interest rate of 15% and will mature on January 30, 2012.	

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Holding Company Structure
 
We are a holding company with no material operations of our own. We conduct our operations primarily through our three wholly owned subsidiaries and our affiliated entities in China. As a result, our ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our wholly owned subsidiaries. If our wholly owned subsidiaries or any newly formed subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our wholly owned subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of our subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation. As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, as of August 31, 2010, we had $4.9 million in statutory reserves, or 15.0% of total equity, that are not distributable as cash dividends. Our PRC subsidiaries have not historically paid any dividends to our offshore entities from their accumulated profits. However, we do not expect that the statutory reserve requirement will materially limit our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders or our plan to expand our business because we are only required to set aside an additional $2.9 million to satisfy the maximum requirement of statutory reserves for all of our PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
 
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholders’ equity, or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated by excess cash invested in liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. We have not been exposed, nor do we anticipate being exposed, to material risks due to changes in interest rates. However, our future interest income may be lower than expected due to changes in market interest rates.
 
Foreign Exchange Risk
 
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions and China’s foreign exchange policies. The conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar, has been based on exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi solely to the U.S. dollar. Under this revised policy, the Renminbi is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the Renminbi appreciated approximately 21.5% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Since July 2008, however, the Renminbi has traded within a narrow range against the U.S. dollar, remaining within 1% of its July 2008 high. As a consequence, the Renminbi has fluctuated significantly since July 2008 against other freely traded currencies, in tandem with the U.S. dollar. On June 20, 2010, the People’s Bank of China announced that the PRC government will further reform the
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Renminbi exchange rate regime and enhance the Renminbi exchange rate flexibility. It is difficult to predict how this new policy may impact the Renminbi exchange rate going forward.
 
Substantially all of our earnings and cash assets are denominated in RMB and the net proceeds from this offering will be denominated in U.S. dollars, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the RMB will affect the relative purchasing power of these proceeds and our balance sheet and earnings per share in U.S. dollars following this offering. In addition, appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations. Fluctuations in the exchange rate will also affect the relative value of any dividend we issue after this offering that will be exchanged into U.S. dollars and earnings from, and the value of, any U.S. dollar-denominated investments we make in the future. We do not believe that we currently have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and have not hedged exposures denominated in foreign currencies or any other derivative financial instruments. Although in general, our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while the ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.
 
Moreover, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this offering into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. Assuming we had converted the U.S. dollar-denominated cash balance of $50.8 million as of February 28, 2010 into RMB at the exchange rate of $1.00 for RMB6.8259 as of February 28, 2010, this cash balance would have been RMB346.4 million. Assuming a 1.0% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, this cash balance would have decreased to RMB343.0 million as of February 28, 2010. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.
 
Inflation Risk
 
Inflation in China has not had a significant effect on our business. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the change in the Consumer Price Index in China was 4.8%, 5.9% and (0.7%) in the calender year 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement to amend the accounting rules for variable interest entities, or VIEs. The amendments effectively replace the quantitative-based risks-and-rewards calculation for determining which reporting entity, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach focused on identifying which reporting entity has (1) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity. Additionally, an enterprise is required to assess whether it has an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that a variable interest entity operates as designed when determining whether it has the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about a reporting entity’s involvement with variable interest entities and about any significant changes in risk exposure as a result of that involvement.
 
The new guidance is effective at the start of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009, and all interim and annual periods thereafter. The new VIE model requires that, upon adoption, a reporting entity should determine whether an entity is a VIE, and whether the reporting entity is the VIE’s primary beneficiary, as of the date that the reporting entity first became involved with the entity, unless an event requiring reconsideration of those initial conclusions occurred after that date. When making this determination, a reporting entity must assume that new guidance had been effective from the date of its first involvement with the entity. We adopted the new guidance on March 1, 2010.
 
We have had two VIEs, which we have consolidated under the authoritative literature prior to the amendment discussed above because we were the primary beneficiary of those entities. Because we, through
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our wholly owned subsidiary, have (1) the power to direct the activities of the two VIEs that most significantly affect their economic performance and (2) the right to receive benefits from the two VIES, we continue to consolidate the two VIEs upon the adoption of the new guidance which therefore, other than for additional disclosures, had no accounting impact.
 
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. This pronouncement was issued in response to practice concerns related to the accounting for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables under an existing pronouncement. Although the new pronouncement retains the criteria from an existing pronouncement for when delivered items in a multiple-deliverable arrangement should be considered separate units of accounting, it removes the previous separation criterion under existing pronouncements that objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of any undelivered items must exist for the delivered items to be considered a separate unit or separate units of accounting. The new pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement (1) prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or (2) retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted; however, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also do the following in the period of adoption: (1) retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year; and (2) disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. We are in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding software revenue recognition. This new pronouncement amends an existing pronouncement to exclude from its scope all tangible products containing both software and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality. That is, the entire product (including the software deliverables and non-software deliverables) would be outside the scope of software revenue recognition and would be accounted for under other accounting literature. The new pronouncement includes factors that entities should consider when determining whether the software and non-software components function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality and are thus outside the revised scope of the authoritative literature that governs software revenue recognition. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement (1) prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or (2) retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted; however, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also do the following in the period of adoption: (1) retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year; and (2) disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. We are in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In April 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on milestone method of revenue recognition. The scope of this pronouncement is limited to arrangements that include milestones relating to research or development deliverables. The pronouncement specifies guidance that must be met for a vendor to recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a substantive milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. The guidance applies to milestones in arrangements within the scope of this consensus regardless of whether the arrangement is determined to have single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The pronouncement will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early application is permitted. Companies can apply this guidance prospectively to milestones achieved after adoption. However, retrospective application to all prior periods is also permitted. We are in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
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MARKET OPPORTUNITY
 
We believe that the K-12 after-school tutoring market is the most attractive sector in China’s private education market given the large addressable market it serves, its rapid growth rate and its highly fragmented nature. According to iResearch, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China grew from RMB123.8 billion in 2007 to RMB189.7 billion ($27.9 billion) in 2009, representing a CAGR of 23.8%, and is projected to grow to RMB447.2 billion ($65.7 billion) in 2014, representing a CAGR of 18.7% from 2009. Moreover, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China is highly fragmented with no player holding over a 1% market share. This fragmented market presents opportunities for private tutoring service providers that offer high-quality services and have a strong track record, brand and reputation to attract and retain more students and increase market share.
 
China’s Education Market
 
China had one of the world’s fastest growing economies in the past decade, with its per capita disposable income of urban households increasing at a CAGR of 12.2% from RMB6,280 ($923) in 2000 to RMB15,781 ($2,318) in 2008. This has led to increased disposable income and higher levels of consumer spending in China.
 
China’s education market also grew rapidly around the same period between 2004 and 2008. The growth in education spending in China was primarily driven by rapid urbanization, a traditional and cultural emphasis on education, and wage premiums associated with better education.
 
According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, urban population as a percentage of China’s total population increased from 36% in 2000 to 46% in 2008. Rising urbanization is a key growth driver in China’s education spending as most employment opportunities in urban areas require higher levels of education than in rural areas. In addition, urban employment opportunities on average offer higher compensation packages, which tend to translate into higher disposable income per capita and a greater propensity to invest in education compared with rural areas.
 
Chinese culture has always placed great emphasis on education. In dynastic China, people spent years studying in the hope of passing the government-administered civil service examinations and entering governmental services, which was deemed to be a key to success and stature in society. This culture continues to penetrate contemporary China, and it is commonly believed that superior education may provide one with the ability to promote his or her family’s fortune and social status. With the “one-child policy” being implemented in China since the 1980s and a rapid growth in household income in recent years, parents have become even more willing to invest heavily in their only child’s education, with the hope of securing a better future for their child.
 
As in other countries, better education tends to lead to financial success and more career opportunities in China. Graduates from key universities earned 46% more than vocational high school graduates on average and 23% more than those from other universities on average in 2009, according to iResearch. Moreover, college graduates generally enjoy significantly better job prospects than high school graduates.
 
Despite the strong growth, the education market in China remains under-invested compared with other developed countries. According to iResearch, the PRC government’s spending on education accounted for 3% of China’s GDP in 2008, compared with the United States (5%) and the United Kingdom (5.25%). This has created opportunities for private education service providers to grow and prosper by catering to the unmet educational demands of Chinese students and parents.
 
China’s K-12 After-School Tutoring Market
 
China’s K-12 Education System
 
In China, the education system begins prior to the first grade, followed by nine years of compulsory education in primary and middle schools. Students may then choose to attend high schools, which are three years in length, followed by college and postgraduate studies. Examination results are the most important
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criteria by which a student’s performance is assessed and a key factor in determining how far a student’s education can progress.
 
In order to be admitted to colleges in China, high school students are required to take the college entrance examinations, or the “Gaokao”. The Gaokao is the most critical set of examinations in a student’s education as the results determine whether a student will be able to attend a highly ranked college (or any at all), which in turn has a significant impact on the student’s future job prospects. As of December 31, 2008, only 114 of the 2,263 higher educational institutions in China were deemed “key universities” by the Ministry of Education, or MOE. Among them, Peking University and Tsinghua University, which are regarded as the most prestigious universities in China, collectively recruit approximately 6,600 students each year, accounting for approximately 0.1% of the total number of students admitted by all universities each year in China. The average admission rate of the key universities in China is approximately 5%. Moreover, according to the MOE, the gross higher education enrollment rate, or the percentage of students that are enrolled in an undergraduate program of at least two years, was 23% among the Chinese population in the 18-to-22 age group in 2008. Low admission rates of universities in general, and of the top universities in particular, have resulted in fierce competition for quality undergraduate education in China.
 
To increase the probability of entering key universities, students compete in high school entrance examinations, or the “Zhongkao,” to enter the best high schools in the cities or provinces in which they reside. Prior to the Zhongkao, they also compete to enter the best middle schools through a competitive selection process known as “Xiao Sheng Chu,” which is typically based on the students’ academic performance in primary schools. The number of key middle schools and key high schools, which are designated by local education bureaus or local education commissions and, in a very limited number of cases, by MOE, is very small relative to the total number of middle and high schools in China. In Beijing and Shanghai, which are endowed with the most educational resources among all municipalities in China, key schools accounted for only 15.7% and 17.7%, respectively, of the total number of middle schools and high schools in each city as of December 31, 2008. The key schools have better teaching quality and more educational resources, which generally result in better performance in college entrance examinations for their students. Therefore, in order to improve their chances of eventually gaining admission to key universities, many students start working very hard at a very young age in the hope of excelling in the Xiao Sheng Chu process and the Zhongkao, so as to be admitted to key middle schools and key high schools, respectively.
 
Moreover, among the K-12 school subjects, mathematics is usually given great emphasis by teachers and students, as it is a core subject at all levels in the K-12 system. Furthermore, math skills are considered very important in learning other core science subjects. Therefore, math ability is believed to be a highly significant contributor to a student’s overall performance and is greatly emphasized throughout the K-12 system.
 
In China, most public schools have between 50 and 60 students in each class. Students at the same grade level in each province typically follow the same curricula and pace of study regardless of their individual learning curves, interests, progress or needs. Given the pressure to excel on every entrance exam, the inadequate personalized support received within the public school system and the limited supply of quality schools at every education level, an increasing number of parents and students turn to private after-school tutoring services to complement the public school education curriculum.
 
We believe the intense competition in China’s K-12 education system is largely driven by the unbalanced supply and demand of quality education at all levels. On the one hand, students, facing intense competition, are under constant pressure throughout the K-12 system to achieve outstanding examination results. On the other hand, China’s public education is under-invested and unable to meet all educational demands. Such an imbalance in supply and demand thereby creates tremendous opportunities for the growth of private educational services, including the after-school tutoring market.
 
China’s K-12 After-School Tutoring Market
 
K-12 after-school tutoring targets persons between the ages of 5 and 19. According to MOE Statistics, there were approximately 180 million students studying in primary schools, middle schools and high schools by the end of 2008. The significant role K-12 education plays in a student’s future has driven the rapid growth
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of the K-12 after-school tutoring market, which is one of the largest and fastest growing segments in China’s private education market. According to iResearch, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China grew from RMB123.8 billion in 2007 to RMB189.7 billion ($27.9 billion) in 2009, representing a CAGR of 23.8%, and is projected to grow to RMB447.2 billion ($65.7 billion) in 2014, representing a CAGR of 18.7% from 2009. The following graph sets forth total revenues of China’s K-12 after-school tutoring market for the periods indicated:
 
China K-12 After-School Tutoring Market:

 
Source: iResearch
 
K-12 after-school tutoring is particularly common in many East Asian countries. For example, in South Korea, 89% of primary school students, 75% of middle school students, and 55% of high school students used some form of after-school tutoring services, according to iResearch. By comparison, according to iResearch, there were approximately 54 to 63 million K-12 students in China receiving after-school tutoring services in 2009, representing 30% to 35% of the total K-12 population, which lagged behind the penetration rate in South Korea and other East Asian countries. We believe this is primarily due to the evolution of China’s public education system and the fact that private education as an industry has a relatively short history in China. However, according to iResearch, the after-school tutoring service market penetration rate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen is expected to reach approximately 70% in the next few years.
 
Word-of-mouth and the Internet are the two most important channels through which students and parents learn about and select K-12 after-school tutoring services in China. Word-of-mouth is traditionally regarded as one of the most reliable sources of recommendations for tutoring services. With the rapid growth of Internet use in China in recent years, new media has come to play an increasingly more significant role in spreading information regarding the after-school tutoring service market. According to iResearch, Internet is now the second most important factor after word-of-mouth referrals in the selection of tutoring service providers. China has the world’s largest Internet population, according to China Internet Network Information Center. The current generation of K-12 students and their parents, especially those in the urban areas, are highly reliant on the Internet for educational information, as the Internet affords immediate access unconstrained by geographic location to a large reservoir of data and opinions.
 
iResearch projects the K-12 tutoring market to be especially attractive in the most developed cities in China such as Beijing and Shanghai, given the economic affluence and high spending on education in these cities. There were approximately 1.2 million K-12 students in each of Beijing and Shanghai in 2008. The disposable income per capita in Beijing and Shanghai in 2008 was RMB24,725 ($3,632) and RMB26,675 ($3,919), respectively, compared to the national average for urban households of RMB15,781 ($2,318). The relatively large number of key high schools and middle schools (101, as of December 31, 2008) in the two cities also promotes the overall quality of K-12 education. According to iResearch, the combined market size for Beijing and Shanghai is expected to reach RMB37.3 billion ($5.5 billion) in aggregate revenues by 2014.
 
Unlike many other private education services, such as language certification training, which focuses on preparing students for one-time tests on specific subjects, K-12 after-school tutoring service providers have the opportunity to develop multi-year relationships with students and their parents over the entire span of their K-
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12 education. Moreover, given the critical influence K-12 education often has over a student’s future, the K-12 after-school tutoring market is less sensitive to economic cycles than some other segments of the private education market in China, such as post-secondary school or vocational training. According to iResearch, the K-12 after-school tutoring market in China grew by 26.4% during the economic downturn in 2009, exceeding the approximately 7% growth in China’s overall education market in the same year.
 
According to iResearch, there are four types of K-12 after-school tutoring services currently available in China:

 	•  	Large classes: in-class teaching with typically more than 30 students per class. This is the traditional format of after-school tutoring. However, it is experiencing a declining trend due to its lower effectiveness compared to the other formats of after-school tutoring. In 2009, this segment represented an estimated market size of RMB26.5 billion ($3.9 billion), according to iResearch. iResearch expects the market share of large classes to continue to decline over time.	

 	•  	Small classes: in-class teaching with typically 10-30 students per class. The smaller class size allows teachers to pay closer attention to individual students and better tailor the classes to their study needs. This class setting therefore has become the most popular format of after-school tutoring given its attractive balance between affordability and the amount of individual attention students are able to receive from their teachers. In 2009, this segment represented an estimated market size of RMB104.6 billion ($15.4 billion), according to iResearch. iResearch expects this segment to grow at a CAGR of 19.3% over the next five years.	

 	•  	One-on-one personalized tutoring. This class format offers the most customized tutoring services based on a student’s specific situations and study needs and has grown in popularity in recent years driven by the increasing demand for highly tailored tutoring services as well as an increase in the number of high-income households in China. In 2009, the one-on-one personalized tutoring segment represented an estimated market size of RMB56.2 billion ($8.3 billion), according to iResearch. iResearch expects this segment to grow at a CAGR of 20.0% over the next five years.	

 	•  	Online courses: pre-recorded or live class videos coupled with interactive teaching and testing materials offered through educational websites. Online courses are able to reach a broader base of students as they are unconstrained by geographic location barriers and accessible on-demand by potential students whose schedules or location do not allow them to attend courses in person. In 2009, the online course segment represented an estimated market size of RMB2.4 billion ($352.6 million), according to iResearch. iResearch expects this segment to grow at a CAGR of 40.2% over the next five years.	
 
Among the four types of tutoring services, the small classes and one-on-one personalized tutoring services segments experienced high levels of growth in recent years and are expected to become the main formats of K-12 after-school tutoring services. The following graphs set forth the revenue breakdown by types of tutoring services for the periods indicated:
 
China K-12 After-School Tutoring Market By Format:

2009 (estimated)	 	2014 (estimated)	

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Source: iResearch
 
The K-12 after-school tutoring market in China is highly fragmented due to the large K-12 student population, the geographic dispersion of the student population and the relatively low entry barriers. iResearch estimates that there are currently over 100,000 companies or institutions providing after-school tutoring services in China, with no provider accounting for more than 1% of the total market. We believe that teaching quality, student performance and brand strength are key differentiators in this fragmented market.
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BUSINESS
 
Overview
 
We are the largest K-12 after-school tutoring service provider in China in terms of revenues in 2009, according to iResearch. We offer comprehensive tutoring services to K-12 students covering core academic subjects, including mathematics, English, Chinese, physics, chemistry and biology. We have successfully established “Xueersi” as a leading brand in China’s K-12 private education market closely associated with high teaching quality and academic excellence in China, as evidenced by our students’ outstanding academic performance, our over 70% annual retention rate, our ability to recruit most of our students through word-of-mouth referrals as well as the numerous recognitions and awards we have received. The K-12 after-school tutoring service market in China is highly fragmented. In 2009, we had a 0.26% market share in China and a 4.5% market share in Beijing, in each case as measured by revenues for the year according to iResearch.
 
We deliver our tutoring services through small classes, personalized premium services (i.e., one-on-one tutoring) and online course offerings. Our extensive network consists of 109 learning centers and 87 service centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan, as well as our online platform. Our student enrollments increased from 67,996 in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to 382,505 in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 137.2%. Our student enrollment growth has been predominantly driven by new students.
 
We are committed to providing our students with high-quality services and an exceptional learning experience. Our commitment is reflected in our continual focus on recruiting, training and retaining teachers with strong academic credentials, relevant experience and a passion for education; our emphasis on developing, updating and improving our curricula and course materials; and our stress on standardizing operating procedures throughout our network. This in turn has led to a strong track record of outstanding student achievement. In 2010, 169 out of our 430 high school graduates were admitted to Peking University or Tsinghua University, the two most prestigious universities in China that collectively enroll only less than 0.1% of the high school graduates across the country. In the same year, approximately 5,700 of our students in Beijing and Shanghai were admitted to key high schools, representing approximately 77% enrollment rate in comparison to the regional average of approximately 30%; and more than 5,500 of our students in Beijing and Shanghai were admitted to key middle schools, representing approximately 81% enrollment rate in comparison to the regional average of 15-25%. In addition, our students have won a significant number of regional, national and international math competitions, including three gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2008 and 2009.
 
Our online platform, www.eduu.com, hosts China’s largest and most active online education community for our existing and potential students and their parents, and is the largest Internet education portal in China, based on the average monthly page views and average monthly unique visitors in the first six months of 2010. It provides our existing and potential students access to learning resources beyond our physical network, increases student loyalty and stickiness, and enhances our brand awareness. In addition, our online platform enables us to continue to roll out and expand our online course offerings. As word-of-mouth referrals and our online communities have contributed significantly to student recruitment, we have not incurred significant advertising expenses in the past. Our online platform is protected by a combination of PRC laws and regulations that protect trademarks, copyrights, domain names, know-how and trade secrets, as well as confidentiality agreements. Revenues generated from our online course offerings have accounted for less than 1.0% of our total net revenues since we began offering online courses in 2010.
 
We have experienced significant growth in recent years. Our total net revenues increased from $8.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $69.6 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 179.9%. Our net income increased from $1.5 million in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 to $14.2 million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, representing a CAGR of 206.9%. Our total net revenues for the six months ended August 31, 2010 were $53.0 million, and our net income for the same period was $13.2 million.
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Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in the education business in China, we operate our after-school tutoring service business primarily through our variable interest entities and their subsidiaries and schools in China. We do not hold equity interests in our variable interest entities; however, through a series of contractual arrangements with these variable interest entities and their respective shareholders, we effectively control and are able to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from these variable interest entities.
 
Our Strengths
 
We always seek to leverage on our competitive strengths to grow our business in an efficient and cost-effective manner. We believe the following are our key competitive strengths that have contributed significantly to our success and differentiate us from our competitors:
 
Largest K-12 After-School Tutoring Service Provider in China
 
We are China’s largest K-12 after-school tutoring service provider in terms of revenue in 2009, and the after-school tutoring market we serve is one of the largest and fastest growing segments in China’s private education sector. The K-12 after-school tutoring service market in China is highly fragmented. In 2009, we had a 0.26% market share in China and a 4.5% market share in Beijing, in each case as measured by revenues for the year according to iResearch. We have 109 learning centers and 87 service centers in six major cities in China, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan. We offer comprehensive tutoring services to K-12 students covering all core academic subjects through a variety of educational formats including small classes, personalized premium services and online courses. Our scale has enabled us to effectively leverage our brand, extensive existing network, proprietary curricula and course materials and high teaching quality to become a leading national player in a highly fragmented industry.
 
Being a market leader in China’s K-12 after-school tutoring service market enables us to more efficiently introduce and promote new service offerings and to more effectively attract and retain talented personnel by providing them with career development and advancement opportunities.
 
Strong Brand
 
We believe that our “Xueersi” brand is closely associated with high teaching quality and academic excellence. This strong brand has enabled us to recruit students primarily through word-of-mouth referrals, and as a result, we have been able to keep our marketing costs low relative to our total revenues. It also contributed to our ability to develop a loyal student base, as evidenced by our over 70% annual retention rate and robust online community. Moreover, our strong brand allows us to attract high quality teachers and retain a pricing premium relative to our competitors. Furthermore, we are able to leverage our brand to expand into new markets and quickly establish a leading position in those markets.
 
We have received numerous awards such as, in 2009, the Parents’ Most Trusted After-School Educational Institution  award by Sina.com, the  Most Influential After-School Education Brand in the last 60 Years Since 1949  award by Sohu.com, the  Most Innovative Chinese Education Group  award by Beijing News and Media and  China’s Most Influential Education Brand  award by Tencent.com.
 
Outstanding Student Performance
 
We have established an impressive track record of outstanding student performance. In Beijing and Shanghai in 2010, approximately 5,700 of our students were admitted to key high schools, representing approximately 77% enrollment rate in comparison to the regional average of approximately 30%; and more than 5,500 of our students were admitted to key middle schools, representing approximately 81% enrollment rate in comparison to the regional average of 15-25%. Key schools are selected public schools in China with the highest admission standards and best allocated educational resources from the government. Moreover, in 2010, 169 out of our 430 high school graduates were admitted to Peking University and Tsinghua University, the two most prestigious universities in China that collectively enroll only less than 0.1% of high schools graduates across the country. In addition, our students have won a significant number of regional, national and
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international math competitions, including three gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2008 and 2009.
 
High Teaching Quality, Strong Content Development and Efficient Education Management System
 
We believe our commitment to consistent high teaching quality and standards is a significant driving force behind our success. This commitment is reflected in our highly selective teacher hiring process, our emphasis on continued teacher training and rigorous evaluation, competitive performance-based compensation and opportunities for career advancement. We routinely recruit teachers from top tier universities in China. In the past three years, only approximately 5% of applicants to our teaching positions were hired by us. Each of our newly hired teachers is required to undergo months of training before teaching classes and must participate in our continued training programs and a regular and rigorous evaluation process. We believe that our performance-based compensation packages are among the highest in the K-12 tutoring market in China and have helped us retain our best teaching talent. Furthermore, we offer career advancement opportunities to our best teachers who are considered for management positions.
 
We have a dedicated team of over 217 full-time employees focusing on curriculum and course material development, updating and improvement. This team works closely with our education expert advisors to keep up with changing academic and examination requirements in China’s K-12 education system and solicits feedback from our teachers based on their classroom experience. Substantially all of our course materials are designed and developed in house and tailored to different focuses of our students at each grade level.
 
We modularize each distinct function of our operating procedures to optimize efficiency. In addition, we have established a highly standardized set of procedures across our system with respect to course and service offerings. We believe standardization allows us to achieve consistency in curricula delivered across our network, our branding and marketing as well as our operating guidelines.
 
Largest Online Education Platform in China
 
Our online platform, www.eduu.com, hosts China’s largest and most active online education community for our existing and potential students and their parents, and is the largest Internet education portal in China, based on the average monthly page views and the average monthly number of unique visitors in the first six months of 2010. In addition, it serves as a gateway to our online courses and seven other websites dedicated to specific topics, including college entrance examinations, high school entrance examinations, preschool & kindergarten education, personalized premium services, mathematics, English, and Chinese composition.
 
Our websites dedicated to specific topics provide an efficient platform for information exchange, resources sharing and social networking. On these websites, the large and growing online community of students and parents are able to receive the latest information on school admissions and examinations and access past exam questions and test analyses. In addition, they are able to share their experiences and views regarding our courses, public school education in general and various other topics that concern them. They can also obtain information on, and make purchases of, our classroom-based course offerings in these topic areas.
 
The online platform complements and extends our existing physical network to improve our students’ learning experience, increases student loyalty and stickiness, facilitates ongoing parent participation and enhances our brand awareness. Additionally, our online platform enables us to leverage our high quality content and teachers to expand our addressable target market, facilitates direct and constant communications with our prospective students and parents and effectively lowers our student acquisition costs.
 
Innovative and Entrepreneurial Management Team with Passion for Education
 
We have an innovative and entrepreneurial management team with a passion for education. Our co-founders, Mr. Bangxin Zhang and Mr. Yundong Cao, started our first after-school tutoring class in 2003 when they were still attending graduate school at Peking University. Two additional members of our senior management team, Dr. Yachao Liu and Mr. Yunfeng Bai, joined us as teachers in 2003 and 2005, respectively, and have risen to their current management positions because of their commitment to our company and
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outstanding performance. Under the leadership of our senior management, we have successfully executed our growth strategies to focus exclusively on the K-12 after-school tutoring service market and have become the leader in this market in China. We take great pride in our entrepreneurial, motivated and student-oriented corporate culture.
 
Our Strategies
 
We intend to pursue the following key growth strategies to achieve our goal of maintaining and further strengthening our leading position in the after-school tutoring service market in China:
 
Further Penetrate Existing Markets
 
We intend to further penetrate our existing markets by leveraging our strong brand, economies of scale and content development and teaching prowess. We currently have learning centers in six of the most economically prosperous cities in China, but our share of the overall K-12 after-school tutoring market still remains relatively low. For example, in Beijing and Shanghai, where our largest operations are based, our students account for less than 3% of the K-12 student population. We plan to leverage our brand to significantly increase our market share in each of these markets through opening additional learning centers.
 
We also plan to grow revenues in our existing markets by offering more classes and subjects at various grade levels, expanding classes to additional grade levels in cities where we do not yet offer them at all grade levels, attracting our existing students to enroll in additional courses, attracting new students to enroll in our courses and service offerings.
 
Extend Geographic Network into Attractive New Markets
 
We intend to expand our geographic network into additional attractive markets in China. We have already identified several economically prosperous regions in China with high projected growth, which we expect to offer attractive returns on capital. We intend to rigorously analyze various competitive and demographic factors in those markets in order to align our course offerings with local needs while maintaining the efficiency of our operations through our centralized structure, standardized training, and content development processes.
 
Expand Personalized Premium Services
 
We believe there is strong growth potential in the personalized premium services market. Our personalized premium services offer customized curricula and education timelines to suit each student’s educational focus and requirements. We started personalized premium services in 2007 and have since grown rapidly to become a market leader in this market segment in Beijing. We operate 19 learning centers and 20 service centers in Beijing that are devoted to personalized premium services. We intend to further expand our personalized premium services in Beijing and replicate our successful model to other geographic markets, particularly those where we already have a successful track record operating small classes, while maintaining our high teaching quality.
 
Further Develop Online Course Offerings
 
We plan to further develop our online course offerings to extend our market reach and maximize the potential of our services. Online courses offer a cost-effective means for us to reach a broader target student base and realize greater cross-selling opportunities with our existing students, more fully utilize our existing education resources and generate attractive returns on capital. They enable us to leverage our proprietary curricula and course materials as well as high-quality teachers to target markets beyond our physical network. They also enable students to access our courses through the Internet at times and places most convenient for them and greatly facilitate interactions among students, teachers and parents. We began to officially offer online courses in 2010 and revenues generated from our online course offerings have accounted for less than 1.5% of our total net revenues. We intend to continue to invest in the expansion of our online education courses and improve our online platform.
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Our Motto and Educational Philosophy
 
Our approach to education is based on our motto “Learning Changes Lives” and an educational philosophy reflected in four guiding principles:

 	•  	educate our students to become well-rounded people with integrity and high moral standards;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	motivate our students to set and achieve high long-term goals;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	nurture our students’ passion for learning; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	foster a loving and caring character in our students.	
 
Our Tutoring Services
 
We deliver our tutoring services to our students through small class settings, personalized premium services (i.e., one-on-one tutoring) and online course offerings.
 
Small classes
 
Since our inception, we have been offering courses in small class settings, which remain our main form of service offering in terms of number of student enrollments. 90 of our 109 learning centers and 67 of our 87 service centers nationwide are devoted to offering small classes. A typical small class course consists of 15 or 16 sessions during each spring and fall school semester and 7 to 12 sessions during each summer and winter break. Each session typically lasts three hours with course fees ranging from RMB50 to RMB55 per hour.
 
We typically enroll a maximum of 15 students in each small class at primary school levels, a maximum of 25 students in each small class at middle school levels, and a maximum of 30 students in each small class at high school levels. We keep the size of our classes small so that students can receive more individual attention from teachers than what they would typically experience in a large class setting and are able to learn in an interactive group environment. Moreover, small classes allow our teachers to maintain frequent interactions with students and parents before and after classes to discuss their questions, address their concerns and provide feedback on students’ progress.
 
We design curricula catering to our students’ different educational requirements and needs. Many of our classes for the same subject and grade level are offered at different levels of difficulty to better cater to the different needs of our students. For instance, we offer math tutoring in the form of basic classes, advanced classes, which are taught at a faster pace than basic classes, intensive classes, which are conducted at an even more accelerated pace, and specialized classes, which cater to the needs of advanced students and focus on specialized training for math competitions. We periodically assess our students’ progress, and based on the results of such assessment, reassign students to different classes on an as-needed basis such that each student’s situation and needs are taken into consideration.
 
To maximize transparency, improve learning experience and build trust with students and parents, we allow parents to audit most of the small classes their children attend, and for many of our classes, also offer unconditional refunds for any remaining unattended classes if notified by the student or parent within the first two-thirds of each course.
 
Personalized Premium Services
 
We began to offer personalized premium services in August 2007 under our “Zhikang” brand. We operate 19 learning centers and 20 services centers in Beijing that are devoted to personalized premium services. The course fees for our personalized premium services range from RMB220 to RMB1,000 per hour.
 
Our personalized premium services provide fully customized curricula and course materials and flexible schedules to suit each student’s educational focus in a one-on-one student-teacher setting. We provide personalized premium services to cater to the specific requirements of our students, such as addressing
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weaknesses in particular subjects or topics, providing intensive examination or competition preparation and tailoring the pace of learning to accommodate above- or below-average learning curves.
 
Key features of our personalized premium services include:
 
Completely customized tutoring solution. Each prospective student of our personalized premium services must meet with our course consultant and undergo a range of diagnostic tests to assess the student’s strengths, weaknesses and potential. We then design and recommend a customized tutoring solution to the student in consultation with the student’s parents with respect to timing, cost and other considerations specific to the students’ circumstances. During the entire course of our personalized premium services for a student, we actively monitor the student’s progress and adjust the curriculum and learning pace for the student when necessary.
 
Tailor-made course materials. The course materials used in our personalized premium services are specifically selected by subject teachers from our comprehensive course material database for the benefits of each student. We leverage our strong curriculum and course material development capability to provide high quality course materials to our students.
 
One-on-one student-teacher setting, supported by a team of experienced teachers. Each student in our personalized premium service has access to our large pool of experienced teachers in every subject and at every grade level. A large majority of the teachers in our one-on-one personalized premium services are full-time teachers to ensure better quality control. Teachers are chosen by students and their parents based on the specific interests and needs of each student. Each of our personalized premium tutoring sessions is conducted in a one-on-one student-teacher setting.
 
Personalized attention. We assign each student a coordinator, who routinely communicates with the student and the student’s parents to address their questions and concerns and to closely monitor the quality of our services. The coordinator normally communicates with students and parents within 24 hours of each session and solicits weekly and monthly feedback from students and parents. We also accommodate any request by students or parents to change teachers to the extent practicable.
 
We intend to further expand our personalized premium services in Beijing and replicate this model to our other geographic markets, particularly those where we already have a successful track record operating small classes.
 
Online Courses
 
We offer selected online courses in math, Chinese and English through one of our websites, www.eduu.cn , where we began to officially offer online courses in 2010. As of August 31, 2010, we had 22,009 accumulated student enrollments in our online courses and we delivered 10,237 recorded videos of online courses. The online course fees range from RMB50 to RMB55 per hour.
 
Online courses enable us to leverage our proprietary curricula and course materials and high quality teachers to target markets beyond the reach of our physical network. It also enables our students to access our courses through the Internet at times and places most convenient for them.
 
Key features of our online courses include:
 
High quality audio-video lectures. All of our online courses feature high quality audio-video lectures by experienced teachers. They are delivered through a multimedia web interface using streaming media and other technologies. The audio-video lectures are accompanied by high resolution animated slides to create a stimulating learning environment for our students.
 
Teachers with superior communication skills. We select lecturers for our online courses from among our top teachers. We seek to engage teachers who have a strong command of the respective subject areas and superior communication skills. In particular, we seek teachers capable of, and preferably experienced in, delivering effective instructions through the audio-video format. All teachers for online courses are required to undergo trial classes before recording their lectures.
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Quality course-related support. Our online courses are supplemented by our proprietary course materials, online assignments, exercises, mock examinations and other forms of course-related support. We require students of our online courses to complete exercise questions as homework. Students can post questions online through our websites, which our instructors usually respond to within 24 hours after a question is submitted.
 
Comprehensive student supports. Each student’s performance is closely monitored by a class coordinator who communicates with the student and the student’s parents to follow up on the student’s progress, which we believe has contributed to the high completion rate of our online courses by our students.
 
We plan to further develop our online course offerings to extend our market reach and maximize the potential of our services. In particular, we intend to expand our course offerings to include more subjects and grade levels.
 
Student Services
 
We strive to provide a supportive learning environment to our students through our teachers, class coordinators, call centers and online platform.
 
Our teachers keep track of the students’ performance and progress and regularly communicate with the students and parents. Moreover, each of our students in the personalized premium services is assigned a class coordinator who is in close contact with the students and parents regarding scheduling and other logistical issues, receives feedback on teaching quality and arranges teacher replacements where necessary.
 
We have two call centers in Beijing and Shanghai, the main functions of which include receiving enquiries, accepting registrations and addressing other course-related issues. In addition, we regularly reach out to students of our online courses through the call centers to keep track of their progress. Our call center in Beijing has 90 operators and is open between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Our call center in Shanghai has 14 operators and is open between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The call centers facilitate our communications with existing and prospective students, our monitoring of completion of online courses and our efficient resolution of any concerns raised by our students or their parents.
 
In addition, the online platform, among other things, provides an efficient channel for the students and parents to submit study questions to our subject experts, which are generally answered within 24 hours.
 
Our Curricula and Course Materials
 
Curricula
 
Our curricula cover the core K-12 subjects, which include mathematics, English, Chinese, physics, chemistry and biology.
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We started our business in 2003 by offering tutoring classes in mathematics, which still remains one of our strongest subjects as evidenced by the outstanding performance of our students in mathematics examinations and competitions. We then gradually rolled out courses in other subjects over the past several years. In terms of grade levels, we initially focused on serving primary school students and over the time expanded our course offerings into higher grade levels. The following table provides a list of our current course offerings in Beijing:

 	 	 	 	Primary School	 	Middle School	 	High School	
 	 	K	 	1	 	2	 	3	 	4	 	5	 	6	 	7	 	8	 	9	 	10	 	11	 	12	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mathematics	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	
English	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	
Chinese	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	 	 	•	 	
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•	 	:    Currently offered.	
 	 	 	
–	 	:    Not offered at the corresponding grade level in public schools in China.	
 
Curriculum and Course Material Development
 
Substantially all of our education content is developed in-house. We have a dedicated team of over 217 full-time employees who are responsible for developing, updating and improving our curricula and course materials. The team is further divided based on subjects covered, with each subject team led by a director who has significant teaching experience in the subject. Our team works closely with our education advisors in different subject fields to keep up with changing academic and examination requirements in China’s K-12 education system and solicits feedback from our teachers based on their classroom experience.
 
The development process of our curricula and course materials typically starts with reviewing and referencing recent teaching materials and teachers’ training materials from leading public schools as well as any new examination requirements to analyze the latest market trends and needs. Our development team is able to identify subjects and concepts that are difficult for students and focuses on the most important and difficult concepts and skills in the curricula. To address different educational requirements and needs of our students at each grade level, we have also developed curricula and course materials tailored for classes of different difficulty levels based on that group of students’ learning curves as well as their strengths and weaknesses. At the end of each class cycle, we evaluate, update and improve course materials based upon usage rate, feedback from teachers, students and parents as well as student performance.
 
Most of our curricula and course materials are developed at our corporate level in Beijing and adopted by other locations with modifications to meet local requirements and demands. We are also in the process of modularizing course materials based on specific topics so that centrally developed content can be more easily adopted locally and make our services more scalable.
 
Our Teachers
 
As our teachers interact with our students on a daily basis, they are critical to maintaining the quality of our services and to promoting our brand and reputation. We have a team of dedicated and highly qualified teachers with a strong passion for education, whom we believe are essential to our success. We are committed to maintaining a consistent and high teaching quality. This commitment is reflected in our highly selective teacher hiring process, our emphasis on continued teacher training and rigorous evaluation, competitive performance-based compensation and opportunities for career advancement. We had 76, 363, 647 and 1,067 full-time teachers and 1,572, 2,054, 2,460 and 1,455 contract teachers as of February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively. We have experienced low attrition of our teachers. Our voluntary teacher attrition rate was 1.6% and 5.2% for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2009
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and 2010, respectively. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, we increased the number of full-time teachers as a percentage of our total teaching staff as part of our ongoing strategy to optimize our teacher management system. As a result, some lower-performing contract teachers were assigned fewer classes than before, which led to a greater number of contract teachers discontinuing their employment with us and thus a higher voluntary attrition rate during the period than the previous fiscal year.
 
We routinely recruit teachers from top-tier universities in China. We also hire experienced teachers with a solid track record and strong reputation from other schools. Our hiring process is highly selective. In the past three years, only approximately 5% of applicants to our teaching positions were hired by us.
 
Each of our newly hired full-time teachers is required to undergo months of training before teaching classes and must continue to participate in periodic training programs that focus on education content, teaching skills and techniques as well as our corporate culture and values. In addition, our teachers are regularly evaluated for their classroom performance and teaching results. Our teachers’ retention, compensation and promotion are to a large extent based on the results of such evaluations. The evaluation process is highly rigorous and based mainly on four factors: annual retention rate, refund rate, class enrollment rate and student and parent satisfaction rate.
 
We offer our teachers competitive and performance-based compensation packages and provide them with prospects of career advancement within the company. Our best teachers may be promoted to become directors of our operations in geographic markets outside Beijing, invited to participate in our educational content development effort and even considered for senior management positions.
 
When we open a school in a new city, we typically select the school head from a pool of our top teachers in Beijing who have demonstrated management talent in an effort to maintain a uniform standard of teaching quality and consistent company culture as we expand. We require managers for new schools to participate in training sessions at our Beijing headquarters, which are designed to share best practices and disseminate policies, guidelines and standards to each of our locations. These school managers are then responsible for ongoing training of our full-time teachers at new locations.
 
Our Network
 
Our extensive network consists of 109 learning centers and 87 service centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan, two call centers in Beijing and Shanghai as well as our online platform. Our learning centers host teaching facilities and are physical locations where classes are being conducted. Our service centers offer consultation, course selection, registration and other services, most of which are also provided by our call centers.
 
The following table sets forth the number of learning centers and service centers in each of the six cities in our physical network.

 	 	Number of
	 	Number of
	
City	 	Learning Centers	 	Service Centers	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Beijing	 	 	80	 	 	 	61	 	
Shanghai	 	 	14	 	 	 	12	 	
Shenzhen	 	 	2	 	 	 	2	 	
Guangzhou	 	 	3	 	 	 	3	 	
Tianjin	 	 	4	 	 	 	3	 	
Wuhan	 	 	6	 	 	 	6	 	
 
We intend to open new learning and service centers both in our existing and newly identified geographic markets to capitalize on growth opportunities. We have adopted a systematic approach for expansion of our learning centers or geographic markets. The decision on whether to open a new learning center is typically made at the corporate level and involves a well-established process requiring participation by different levels of management personnel within our organizational structure. In selecting the locations for new learning centers, we perform comprehensive studies of each location by gathering education statistics, demographic
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data, public transportation information and other data. Our process in identifying a new market involves additional steps and rigorous analyses, such as promoting our brand locally, recruiting teachers and other staff and commencing course offerings with an initial focus on certain core subjects.
 
As we add new centers, management has also taken steps to ensure that we do so in a consistent fashion, including center design and build-out, operating hours, cash collection procedures, and course materials distribution. Key data from each new school is recorded in our IT system, allowing our senior management at our headquarters to analyze the key metrics of the business and determine areas that require greater management attention. To establish proper controls as we expand, we also establish a local finance team in each new city with oversight from the finance team at our headquarters. The finance team at our headquarters regularly monitors and provides training to the finance team in each school to ensure that our key financial policies are implemented at the local level.
 
Moreover, our online platform, www.eduu.com, hosts China’s largest and most active online education community for our existing and potential students and their parents, and is the largest Internet education portal in China, based on the average monthly page views and average monthly unique visitors in the first six months of 2010. In addition, it serves as a gateway to our online courses and seven other websites dedicated to specific topics, including college entrance examinations, high school entrance examinations, preschool education, personalized premium services, mathematics, English and Chinese composition.
 
Marketing and Student Recruitment
 
We recruit our students primarily through word-of-mouth referrals. Our excellent reputation and strong brand have also greatly facilitated our student recruitment. Moreover, we engage in a range of marketing activities to enhance our brand recognition among prospective students and their parents, generate interest in our service offerings and further stimulate referrals. In fiscal years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010 and for the six months ended August 31, 2010, our selling and marketing expenses were $0.4 million, $2.4 million, $5.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, accounting for 4.2%, 6.3%, 8.1% and 7.9% of our total net revenues, respectively.
 
Referrals
 
We believe the single greatest contributor to our success in student recruitment has been word-of-mouth referrals by our students and their parents who share their learning experiences at Xueersi with others. Our recruitment through word-of-mouth referrals has enjoyed a strong network effect with the rapid growth in our student base, and benefits from our excellent reputation, strong brand and outstanding performance by our students.
 
Online Platform
 
Our online platform has contributed significantly to increasing student loyalty and stickiness and enhancing our brand awareness. It also facilitates direct and frequent communications with our prospective students and parents and effectively lowers our student recruitment costs.
 
Public Lectures, Seminars, Diagnostic Sessions and Media Interviews
 
We frequently offer free public lectures, seminars and diagnostic sessions to students and parents as a way of providing useful information to our prospective students and relevant experience for them to evaluate our offerings. In the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, we offered more than 350 public lectures, seminars and diagnostic sessions and had more than 23,000 meetings with students and parents. In addition, our approach to high teaching quality and the track record of our outstanding student performance has captured the attention of many traditional and new media, which we believe further enhanced our reputation and brand.
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Advertisement and Others
 
We advertise through leading search engines in China and our cooperative relationships with other education websites targeting Chinese students. We also have advertising arrangements with well-known newspapers in Beijing and use other advertising channels such as outdoor advertising campaigns. In addition, we distribute marketing materials such as brochures, posters and flyers to current and prospective students and their parents in our learning centers, service centers and outside public school campuses. We also participate in various education services and products exhibitions and conventions.
 
Competition
 
The after-school tutoring service sector in China is rapidly evolving, highly fragmented and competitive. We face competition in each type of service we offer and each geographic market in which we operate. Our competitors at the national level include New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc., Juren Education, Ambow Education Holding Ltd., Xueda Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and ChinaEdu Corporation. We also face regional competition from various local players.
 
We believe the principal competitive factors in our business include the following:

 	•  	brand;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	student achievements;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	price/value;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	type and quality of tutoring services offered; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	ability to effectively tailor service offerings to specific needs of students, parents and educators.	
 
We believe that we compete favorably with our competitors on the basis of the above factors. However, some of our competitors may have more resources than we do, and may be able to devote greater resources than we can to expand their business and market shares. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We face significant competition, and if we fail to compete effectively, we may lose our market share and our profitability may be adversely affected.”
 
Intellectual Property
 
Our brands, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights distinguish and protect our course offerings and services from infringement, and contribute to our competitive advantages in the after-school tutoring service sector in China. Our intellectual property rights include the following:

 	•  	3 trademark registrations for our brand and logo in China and Hong Kong;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	registrations of 13 domain names;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	copyrights to substantially all of the course content we developed in house, including all of our online courses; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	copyright registration certificates for 20 software programs developed by us relating to different aspects of our operations.	

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In particular, we have several domain names that are highly valued unique assets of our online platform as each domain name incorporates the Chinese spelling of the theme of the corresponding website, and is therefore easy to remember. Listed below are nine domain names we have registered and the theme of the respective website under each domain name:

Website Domain Name	 	Main Purpose	
 	 	 	
www.eduu.com	 	Our main webpage which is linked to the websites listed below	
www.eduu.cn	 	Online courses	
www.gaokao.com	 	College entrance examinations	
www.zhongkao.com	 	High school entrance examinations	
www.jiajiaoban.com	 	Personalized premium services	
www.aoshu.com	 	Mathematics for primary and middle schools; specialized training for competition mathematics	
www.yingyu.com	 	English language	
www.zuowen.com	 	Chinese composition	
www.youjiao.com	 	Preschool and kindergarten education	
 
To protect our brand and other intellectual property, we rely on a combination of trademark, copyright, domain names, know-how and trade secret laws as well as confidentiality agreements with our employees, contractors and others. We cannot be certain that our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights will be adequate or that third parties will not infringe or misappropriate these rights. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, our brand and business may suffer.”
 
Facilities
 
Our headquarters are located in Beijing, China and occupy approximately 95,087 square feet under a lease which expires in October 2012. We also lease all of our learning centers and service centers, which occupy an aggregate of approximately 971,398 square feet in six cities in China. For more detailed information about the locations of our learning centers and service centers, see “—Our Network.”
 
Employees
 
We had 395, 1,404, 2,342 and 2,827 full-time employees as of February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively. The following table sets forth the number of our employees by function as of August 31, 2010:

 	 	Number of
	 	 	
Functional Area	 	Employees	 	% of Total	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Teaching	 	 	1,067	 	 	 	37.7	%	
Customer service	 	 	912	 	 	 	32.3	%	
Sales and marketing	 	 	149	 	 	 	5.3	%	
Curriculum and course material development	 	 	217	 	 	 	7.7	%	
General and administrative	 	 	325	 	 	 	11.5	%	
Technology	 	 	157	 	 	 	5.6	%	
Total	 	 	2,827	 	 	 	100.0	%	
 
Of our total number of employees as of August 31, 2010, 2,390 were in Beijing, 267 were in Shanghai and 170 were in other locations in China.
 
From time to time, we also employ contract teachers, part-time employees and engage independent consultants to support our teaching and curriculum and course material development activities. We remunerate
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our employees with basic salaries as well as performance-based bonuses. We believe that our employee relations are good.
 
We plan to hire additional teachers and other employees as we expand. Our employee recruiting channels include word-of-mouth referrals, on-campus recruiting, online recruiting and professional recruiters. We also partner with leading higher education institutions and employ other measures designed to bring us into contact with suitable candidates for employment.
 
Our full-time employees in China participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, housing funds and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that our PRC subsidiaries make contributions to the government for these benefits based on a fixed percentage of the employees’ salaries.
 
Insurance
 
We maintain various insurance policies to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. We have purchased limited liability insurance for our students and their parents covering our learning centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. We do not maintain business interruption insurance, product liability insurance or key-man life insurance. We consider our insurance coverage to be in line with that of other private education providers of a similar size in China.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
We are not currently involved in any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. From time to time, we may be subject to various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.
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REGULATION
 
This section summarizes the principal PRC regulations relating to our businesses.
 
We operate our business in China under a legal regime consisting of the National People’s Congress, which is the country’s highest legislative body, the State Council, which is the highest authority of the executive branch of the PRC central government, and several ministries and agencies under its authority, including the Ministry of Education, the General Administration of Press and Publication, the Ministry of Information Industry, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and their respective local offices.
 
Regulations on Private Education
 
The principal laws and regulations governing private education in China consist of the Education Law of the PRC, The Law for Promoting Private Education (2003) and The Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education (2004), and the Regulations on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Operating Schools. Below is a summary of relevant provisions of these regulations.
 
Education Law of the PRC
 
On March 18, 1995, the National People’s Congress enacted the Education Law of the PRC. The Education Law sets forth provisions relating to the fundamental education systems of the PRC, including a school system of preschool education, primary education, secondary education (including middle and high schools) and higher education, a system of nine-year compulsory education and a system of education certificates. The Education Law stipulates that the government formulates plans for the development of education, and establishes and operates schools and other institutions of education. Under the Education Law, enterprises, social organizations and individuals are in principle encouraged to operate schools and other types of educational organizations in accordance with PRC laws and regulations. Meanwhile, no organization or individual may establish or operate a school or any other institution of education for profit-making purposes. However, private schools may be operated for “reasonable returns,” as described in more detail below.
 
The Law for Promoting Private Education (2003) and the Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education (2004)
 
The Law for Promoting Private Education (2003) became effective on September 1, 2003. The Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education (2004) became effective on April 1, 2004. Under these regulations, “private schools” are defined as schools established by non-governmental organizations or individuals using non-government funds. In addition, under the regulations, private schools providing certifications, pre-school education, self-study aid and other academic education are subject to approval by the education authorities, while private schools engaging in occupational qualification training and occupational skill training are subject to approval by the authorities in charge of labor and social welfare. A duly approved private school will be granted a private school operating permit, and shall be registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs or its local bureaus as a privately run non-enterprise institution. In addition, schools and their learning centers must make filings with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Civil Affairs or their local bureaus. Among our ten affiliated schools, two are in the process of renewing their private school operating permits and each of the remaining eight schools has obtained and maintained the private school operating permits.
 
Under the above regulations, private schools have the same status as public schools, though private schools are prohibited from providing military, police, political and other kinds of education that are of a special nature. Government-run schools that provide compulsory education are not permitted to be converted into private schools. In addition, operation of a private school is highly regulated. For example, the types and amounts of fees charged by a private school providing certifications shall be approved by the pricing authority and be publicly disclosed. A private school that does not provide certifications shall file its pricing information with the pricing authority and publicly disclose such information. We do not offer any degree or certification course and thus we shall file our pricing information with the relevant pricing authorities in the
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school districts where we have operations. We disclose all our pricing information for all our services to public.
 
Private education is treated as a public welfare undertaking under the regulations. Nonetheless, investors of a private school may choose to require “reasonable returns” from the annual net balance of the school net of costs, donations received, government subsidies, if any, the reserved development fund and other expenses as required by the regulations. Private schools fall into three categories, including private schools established with donated funds, private schools that require reasonable returns and private schools that do not require reasonable returns.
 
The election to establish a private school requiring reasonable returns shall be provided in the articles of association of the school. The percentage of the school’s annual net balance that can be distributed as reasonable return shall be determined by the school’s board of directors, taking into consideration the following factors: (i) school fee types and collection criteria, (ii) the ratio of the school’s expenses in connection with educational activities and improvement of educational conditions to the total fees collected; and (iii) the admission standards and educational quality. The relevant information relating to the above factors shall be publicly disclosed before the school’s board may determine the percentage of the school’s annual net balance to be distributed as reasonable returns. Such information and the decision to distribute reasonable returns shall also be filed with the relevant government authorities within 15 days of the board decision. However, none of the current PRC laws and regulations provides any specific formula or guideline for determining “reasonable returns.” In addition, none of the current PRC laws and regulations sets forth clear requirements or restrictions on a private school’s ability to operate its education business as a school that requires reasonable returns or as a school that does not require reasonable returns.
 
At the end of each fiscal year, every private school is required to allocate a certain amount to its development fund for the construction or maintenance of school facilities or procurement or upgrade of educational equipment. In the case of a private school that requires reasonable returns, this amount shall be no less than 25% of the annual net balance of the school, while in the case of a private school that does not require reasonable returns, this amount shall be equal to no less than 25% of the annual increase in the net assets of the school, if any. Private schools that do not require reasonable returns shall be entitled to the same preferential tax treatment as public schools, while the preferential tax treatment policies applicable to private schools requiring reasonable returns shall be formulated by the finance authority, taxation authority and other authorities under the State Council. To date, however, no regulations have been promulgated by the relevant authorities in this regard. To date, among our ten affiliated schools, seven have elected not to require reasonable returns and the remaining three have elected to require reasonable returns. All of them have allocated certain amounts to their development funds in compliance with the aforesaid provisions.
 
Regulations on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Operating Schools
 
Chinese-foreign cooperation in operating schools or training courses is specifically governed by the Regulations on Chinese—Foreign Cooperation in Operating Schools, promulgated by the State Council in 2003 in accordance with the Education Law, the Occupational Education Law and the Law for Promoting Private Education, and the Implementing Rules for the Regulations on Chinese—Foreign Cooperation in Operating Schools, or the Implementing Rules, which were issued by the Ministry of Education in 2004.
 
The Regulations on Chinese—Foreign Cooperation in Operating Schools and its Implementing Rules encourage substantive cooperation between overseas educational organizations with relevant qualifications and experience in providing high-quality education and Chinese educational organizations to jointly operate various types of schools in the PRC. Cooperation in the areas of higher education and occupational education is especially encouraged. Chinese-foreign cooperative schools are not permitted, however, to engage in compulsory education or military, police, political and other kinds of education that are of a special nature in the PRC.
 
Permits for schools jointly operated by Chinese and foreign entities shall be obtained from the relevant education authorities or the authorities that regulate labor and social welfare in the PRC. We are not required
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to apply for such permits as all of our schools are operated by Xueersi Network, Xueersi Education or their respective subsidiaries, which are Chinese entities.
 
Regulations on Online and Distance Education
 
Pursuant to the Administrative Regulations on Educational Websites and Online and Distance Education Schools issued by the Ministry of Education in 2000, educational websites and online education schools may provide education services in relation to higher education, primary education, preschool education, education for teachers, occupational education, adult education, other education and public educational information services. “Educational websites” refer to organizations providing education or education-related information services to website visitors by means of a database or online education platform connected via the Internet or an educational television station through an Internet service provider, or ISP. “Online education schools” refer to education websites providing academic education services or training services that issue education certificates.
 
Setting up educational websites and online education schools is subject to approval from relevant education authorities, depending on the specific type of education provided. Any education website and online education school shall, upon receipt of the approval, indicate on its website such approval information as well as the approval date and file number.
 
According to the Administrative License Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or NPC, on August 27, 2003, which became effective on July 1, 2004, only laws promulgated by NPC and regulations and decisions promulgated by the State Council may eliminate the requirement for any administrative license. According to a regulation promulgated by the State Council on June 29, 2004, and later amended on January 29, 2009, operators of “online education schools” must obtain administrative licenses from the government, while no administrative license is required to operate “educational websites.” Accordingly, Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, our affiliated entities engaging in online education-related services, are not required to obtain approval to operate “educational websites” from the Ministry of Education. In addition, Xueersi Education is not required to obtain a license to operate “online education schools”, as it does not directly offer government accredited degrees or certifications through its online education or training services.
 
Regulations on Publishing and Distribution of Publications
 
On December 25, 2001, the State Council promulgated the Administrative Regulations on Publication, or the Publication Regulations, which became effective on February 1, 2002. The Publication Regulations apply to publication activities, i.e., the publishing, printing, copying, importation or distribution of publications, including books, newspapers, periodicals, audio and video products and electronic publications, each of which requires approval from the relevant publication administrative authorities.
 
On April 13, 2005, the State Council announced a policy on private investments in China relating to cultural matters, which affects private investments in businesses that involve publishing. The policy authorizes the Ministry of Culture and several other central government authorities to adopt detailed rules to implement the policy. In July 2005, the Ministry of Culture, together with other central government authorities, issued a regulation that prohibits private and foreign investors from engaging in the publishing business. Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities are not permitted to engage in the publishing business under this regulation.
 
Subsequent to the implementation of the Publication Regulations, the General Administration of Press and Publication issued the Administrative Regulations on Publications Market, which became effective on September 1, 2003 and which was amended on June 16, 2004. According to the Administrative Regulations on Publications Market, any organization or individual engaged in general wholesale or retail distribution of publications shall obtain a Permit for Operating Publications Business. Distribution of publications in the PRC is regulated on different administrative levels. An entity engaged in general distribution of publications shall obtain such permit from the General Administration of Press and Publication and may conduct general distribution of the publications in the PRC. An entity engaged in wholesaling of publications shall obtain such permit from the provincial office of the General Administration of Press and Publication and may not engage
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in general distribution in the PRC. An entity engaged in retail distribution of publications shall obtain such permit from the local office of the Administration of Press and Publication and may not conduct general distribution or wholesaling of publications in the PRC.
 
In addition, pursuant to the Administrative Regulations on Publishing Audio-Video Products promulgated by the State Council on December 25, 2001, which became effective as of February 1, 2002, any entity engaged in the wholesale or retail distribution of audio-video products shall secure a Permit for Publishing Audio-Video Products from the relevant culture authorities.
 
During the term of the above-mentioned permits, the General Administration of Press and Publication or its local bureaus or other competent authorities may conduct annual or spot examinations or inspections to ascertain their compliance with applicable regulations and may require changes in or renewal of such permits.
 
Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, our affiliated entities engaging in retailing teaching materials and audio-video products to our students, have obtained the relevant Permits for Operating Publications Business for retail services and the relevant permits for retailing audio-video products.
 
Regulations on Internet Information Services
 
Subsequent to the State Council’s promulgation of the Telecom Regulations and the Internet Information Services Administrative Measures on September 25, 2000, or the Internet Information Measures, the Ministry of Information Industry and other regulatory authorities formulated and implemented a number of Internet-related regulations, including but not limited to the Internet Electronic Bulletin Board Service Administrative Measures, or the BBS Measures.
 
The Internet Information Measures require that commercial Internet content providers, or ICP providers, obtain a license for Internet information services, or ICP license, from the appropriate telecommunications authorities in order to offer any commercial Internet information services in the PRC. ICP providers shall display their ICP license number in a conspicuous location on their home page. In addition, the Internet Information Measures also provide that ICP providers that operate in sensitive and strategic sectors, including news, publishing, education, health care, medicine and medical devices, must obtain additional approvals from the relevant authorities regulating those sectors as well. The BBS Measures provide that any ICP provider engaged in providing online bulletin board services, or BBS, is subject to a special approval and filing requirement with the relevant telecommunications industry authorities.
 
In July 2006, the Ministry of Information Industry, or MII, posted a notice on its website entitled “Notice on Strengthening Management of Foreign Investment in Operating Value-Added Telecom Services.” The notice prohibits PRC Internet content providers from leasing, transferring or selling their ICP licenses or providing facilities or other resources to any illegal foreign investors. The notice states that PRC Internet content providers should directly own the trademarks and domain names for websites operated by them, as well as servers and other infrastructure used to support these websites. The notice also states that PRC Internet content providers have until November 1, 2006 to evaluate their compliance with the notice and correct any non-compliance. A PRC Internet content provider’s failure to do so by November 1, 2006 may result in revocation of its ICP license.
 
Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, engaging in providing Internet information services and providing online bulletin board services, have each obtained an ICP license from the Beijing bureau of MII, and Xueersi Network engaged in providing online BBS has obtained the approval for such services from the Beijing bureau of MII.
 
Regulations on Broadcasting Audio-Video Programs through The Internet or Other Information Network
 
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, promulgated the Rules for Administration of Broadcasting of Audio-Video Programs through the Internet and Other Information Networks, or the Broadcasting Rules, in 2004, which became effective on October 11, 2004. The Broadcasting Rules apply to the activities of broadcasting, integration, transmission, downloading of audio-video programs
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with computers, televisions or mobile phones as main terminals and through various types of information networks. Pursuant to the Broadcasting Rules, a Permit for Broadcasting Audio-Video Programs via Information Network is required for engaging in Internet broadcasting activities. On April 13, 2005, the State Council announced a policy on private investments in businesses in China that relate to cultural matters, which prohibits private investments in businesses relating to the dissemination of audio-video programs through information networks.
 
On December 20, 2007, SARFT and MII issued the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, which became effective on January 31, 2008. Among other things, the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures stipulate that no entities or individuals may provide Internet audio-video program services without a License for Disseminating Audio-Video Programs through Information Network issued by SARFT or its local bureaus or completing the relevant registration with SARFT or its local bureaus and only entities wholly owned or controlled by the PRC government may engage in the production, editing, integration or consolidation, and transmission to the public through the Internet, of audio-video programs, and the provision of audio-video program uploading and transmission services. There are significant uncertainties relating to the interpretation and implementation of the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, in particular, the scope of “Internet Audio-Video Programs.” However, on April 1, 2010, SARFT promulgated the Tentative Categories of Internet Audio-Visual Program Service, or the Categories, which clarified the scope of Internet Audio-Video Programs. According to the Categories, there are four categories of Internet audio-visual program service which in turn are divided into seventeen sub-categories. The third sub-category of the second category covers the making and broadcasting of certain specialized audio-visual programs concerning art, culture, technology, entertainment, finance, sports, and education.
 
Our net revenues derived from audio-video program services that may be subject to the Audio-Video Program Measures were less than 1.5% of our total net revenues since we began offering online courses in 2010. In the course of offering online tutoring services, we transmit our audio-video educational courses and programs through the Internet only to enrolled course participants, not to the general public. The limited scope of our audience distinguishes us from general online audio-video broadcasting companies, such as companies operating user-generated content websites. In addition, we do not provide audio-video program uploading and transmission services. As a result, we believe that we are not subject to the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures. However, there is no further official or publicly available interpretation of these definitions, especially the scope of “Internet audio-video program service.” If the governmental authorities determine that our provision of online tutoring services falls within the Internet Audio-Video Program Measures, we may not be able to obtain the License for Disseminating Audio-Video Programs through Information Network. If this occurs, we may become subject to significant penalties, fines, legal sanctions or an order to suspend our use of audio-video content.
 
Regulations on Protection of the Right of Dissemination through Information Networks
 
On May 18, 2006, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on Protection of the Right of Dissemination through Information Networks, which became effective on July 1, 2006. The new regulations require that every organization or individual who disseminates a third party’s work, performance, audio or visual recording products to the public through information networks shall obtain permission from, and pay compensation to, the legitimate copyright owner of such products, unless otherwise provided under relevant laws and regulations. The legitimate copyright owner may take technical measures to protect his or her copyright and any organization or individual shall not intentionally jeopardize, destroy or otherwise assist others in jeopardizing such protective measures unless otherwise permitted under law. The new regulations also provide that permission from and compensation to the copyright owner is not required in the case of limited dissemination to teaching or research staff for the purpose of school instruction or scientific research only.
 
Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and Haidian School are the operators of our website engaged in the dissemination of educational content through the Internet and have obtained permission from, and paid compensation to, the legitimate copyright owners of such third party content except when the dissemination is limited to teaching or research purposes only.
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Regulations on Copyright and Trademark Protection
 
China has adopted legislation governing intellectual property rights, including copyrights and trademarks. China is a signatory to major international conventions on intellectual property rights and is subject to the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights as a result of its accession to the World Trade Organization in December 2001.
 
Copyright. The National People’s Congress amended the Copyright Law in 2001 to widen the scope of works and rights that are eligible for copyright protection. The amended Copyright Law extends copyright protection to Internet activities, products disseminated over the Internet and software products. In addition, there is a voluntary registration system administered by the China Copyright Protection Center.
 
To address copyright infringement related to content posted or transmitted over the Internet, the National Copyright Administration and MII jointly promulgated the Administrative Measures for Copyright Protection Related to the Internet on April 30, 2005. These measures became effective on May 30, 2005.
 
Trademark. The PRC Trademark Law, adopted in 1982 and revised in 2001, protects the proprietary rights to registered trademarks. The Trademark Office under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce handles trademark registrations and may grant a term of ten years for registered trademarks, which may be extended for another ten years upon request. Trademark license agreements must be filed with the Trademark Office for record. In addition, if a registered trademark is recognized as a well-known trademark, the protection of the proprietary right of the trademark holder may reach beyond the specific sector of the relevant products or services. We have registered two trademarks with the Trademark Office and one with the Trade Marks Registry, Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong government. We have filed applications for registration of 35 other trademarks and logos with the Trademark Office. We are in the process of registering additional marks and logos.
 
Domain names. On November 5, 2004, the MII amended the Measures for Administration of Domain Names for the Internet, or the Domain Name Measures. The Domain Name Measures regulate the registration of domain names. In February 2006, China Internet Network Information Center, or CNNIC, issued the Implementing Rules for Domain Name Registration and the Measures on Domain Name Dispute Resolution. We have registered many domain names with CNNIC.
 
Regulations on Foreign Exchange Registration of Overseas Investment by PRC Residents.
 
The Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Financing and Round Trip Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 75, issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange and effective on November 1, 2005, regulates foreign exchange matters in relation to the use of SPVs, by PRC residents to seek offshore equity financing and conduct “round trip investment” in China. Under Circular 75, a “special purpose vehicle” refers to an offshore entity established or controlled, directly or indirectly, by PRC residents or PRC entities for the purpose of seeking offshore equity financing using assets or interests owned by such PRC residents or PRC entities in onshore companies, while “round trip investment” refers to the direct investment in China by PRC residents through SPVs, including, without limitation, establishing foreign-invested enterprises and using such foreign-invested enterprises to purchase or control onshore assets through contractual arrangements. Circular 75 requires that, before establishing or controlling an SPV, PRC residents and PRC entities are required to complete foreign exchange registration with the local bureaus of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange for their overseas investments.
 
Circular 75 applies retroactively. PRC residents who have established or acquired control of SPVs that have completed “round-trip investments” before the implementation of the Circular 75 shall register their ownership interests or control in such SPVs with the local bureaus of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange before March 31, 2006. An amendment to the registration is required if there is a material change in the SPV registered, such as increase or reduction of share capital or transfer of shares. Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Circular 75 may result in restrictions on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant foreign-invested enterprises, including payment of dividends and other distributions, such as
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proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, to its offshore parent or affiliate, and the capital inflow from the offshore parent, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
 
We believe that all of our shareholders who are PRC citizens or residents have completed their required registrations with SAFE, or are otherwise in the process of registering with SAFE.
 
Regulations on Loans to and Direct Investment in the PRC Entities by Offshore Holding Companies
 
According to the Implementation Rules for the Provisional Regulations on Statistics and Supervision of Foreign Debt promulgated by SAFE on September 24, 1997 and the Interim Provisions on the Management of Foreign Debts, or the Provisions, promulgated by SAFE, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, which was effective from March 1, 2003, loans by foreign companies to their subsidiaries in China, which are foreign-invested enterprises, are considered foreign debt, and such loans must be registered with the local bureaus of SAFE. Under the Provisions, these foreign-invested enterprises must submit registration applications to the local bureaus of SAFE within 15 days following execution of foreign loan agreements, and the registration should be completed within 20 business days from the date of receipt of the application. In addition, the total amount of accumulated medium-term and long-term foreign debt and the balance of short-term debt borrowed by a foreign-invested enterprise is limited to the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the foreign-invested enterprise. Total investment of a foreign-invested enterprise is the total amount of capital that can be used for the operation of the foreign-invested enterprise, as approved by the Ministry of Commerce or its local bureau, and may be increased or decreased upon approval by the Ministry of Commerce or its local bureau. Registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise is the total amount of capital contributions to the foreign-invested enterprise by its foreign holding company or owners, as approved by the Ministry of Commerce or its local bureau and registered at the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its local bureau.
 
According to applicable PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises, capital contributions from a foreign holding company to its PRC subsidiaries, which are considered foreign-invested enterprises, may only be made when approval by the Ministry of Commerce or its local bureau has been obtained. In approving such capital contributions, the Ministry of Commerce or its local bureau examines the business scope of each foreign invested enterprise under review to ensure it complies with the Foreign-Investment Industrial Guidance Catalog, which classifies industries in China into three categories, namely “encouraged foreign investment industries,” “restricted foreign investment industries” and “prohibited foreign investment industries.”
 
Each of our PRC subsidiaries is a foreign-invested enterprise, is not engaged in any prohibited or restricted businesses listed in the Foreign-Investment Industrial Guidance Catalog and has not incurred any foreign debt.
 
Regulations on Employee Share Incentive Awards Granted by Listed Companies
 
The Operating Procedures for Administration of PRC Individuals Participating in the Employee Share Ownership Plan of Offshore Listed Companies, or Circular 78, regulate the foreign exchange matters associated with employee stock ownership plans granted to PRC residents by companies whose shares are listed on overseas stock exchanges. PRC individuals who are granted share incentive awards by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges based on an employee stock ownership plan are required to register with SAFE or its local bureaus. Pursuant to Circular 78, PRC individuals participating in the employee stock ownership plans of the foreign-listed companies shall entrust their employers, including foreign-listed companies and their subsidiaries or branch offices, or engage PRC agents, to handle various foreign exchange matters associated with their employee stock ownership plans. The PRC agents or the employers shall, on behalf of the PRC individuals who have the right to exercise the employee share options, apply annually to SAFE or its local bureaus for a quota for conversion and/or payment of foreign currencies in connection with the PRC individuals’ exercise of the employee share options if necessary. The foreign exchange proceeds received by the PRC individuals from the sale of shares under the stock ownership plans granted by the
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foreign-listed companies must be remitted to bank accounts in China opened by their employers or PRC agents.
 
Further, a notice concerning individual income tax on earnings from employee share incentive awards, jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation, provides that companies that implement employee stock ownership programs shall file the employee stock ownership plans and other relevant documents with the local tax authorities having jurisdiction over such companies before implementing such plans, and shall file share option exercise notices and other relevant documents with local tax authorities before exercise by their employees of any share options, and clarify whether the shares issuable under the employee share options referenced in the notice are shares of publicly listed companies.
 
Following the completion of this offering, we intend to file registration with the local SAFE bureau for our employees who are PRC nationals and have been granted shares or share options under our share incentive plan and follow other procedures set forth in Circular 78 and other applicable regulations. These registrations and filings are a matter of foreign exchange control and tax procedure and the grant of share incentive awards to employees is not subject to the government’s discretionary approval. We do not believe that compliance with PRC regulations on employee incentive plans will have any material adverse effect on the implementation of our share incentive plan.
 
M&A Regulations and Overseas Listings
 
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, namely, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC, and SAFE, jointly adopted the M&A Rule which became effective on September 8, 2006. This M&A Rule purports to require, among other things, offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for the purpose of acquiring PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. While the application of the M&A Rule remains unclear, we believe, based on the advice of our PRC counsel, Tian Yuan Law Firm, that CSRC approval is not required in the context of this offering as we are not a special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of acquiring domestic companies that are controlled by our PRC individual shareholders, as we acquired contractual control rather than equity interests in our domestic affiliated entities. However, we cannot assure you that the relevant PRC government agency, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel. If the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agency subsequently determines that we need to obtain the CSRC’s approval for this offering or if CSRC or any other PRC government authorities will promulgate any interpretation or implementing rules before our listing that would require CSRC or other governmental approvals for this offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. In such event, these regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the PRC, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us to halt this offering before settlement and delivery of the ADSs offered by this prospectus.
 
Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange
 
Pursuant to applicable PRC regulations on foreign currency exchange, the Renminbi is freely convertible to foreign currencies for current account items only, such as trade-related receipts and payments, interest and dividends. Conversion of Renminbi to foreign exchange for capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans and repatriation of investments, require the prior approval of SAFE or its local bureaus. Payments for transactions that take place within the PRC must be made in Renminbi. Domestic companies or individuals can repatriate payments received from abroad in foreign currencies or deposit those payments abroad subject to the requirement that such payments be repatriated within a certain period of time. Foreign-invested enterprises may retain foreign exchange in accounts with designated foreign exchange banks. Foreign exchange on the current account can be either retained or sold to financial institutions that have foreign exchange settlement or sales business without prior approval from the SAFE, subject to certain regulations.
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Foreign exchange on the capital account can be retained or sold to financial institutions that have foreign exchange settlement and sales business with prior approval of SAFE, unless otherwise provided.
 
In utilizing the proceeds we receive from this offering in the manner described in “Use of Proceeds,” as an offshore holding company with PRC subsidiaries, we may (i) make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, (ii) establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, (iii) make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or our affiliated entities, or (iv) acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an offshore transaction. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:

 	•  	capital contributions to our subsidiaries in China, whether existing ones or newly established ones, must be approved by the PRC Ministry of Commerce or its local bureaus;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	loans by us to our subsidiaries in China, each of which is a foreign-invested enterprise, to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its local bureaus; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	loans by us to our affiliated entities, which are domestic PRC entities, must be approved by the National Development and Reform Commission and must also be registered with SAFE or its local bureaus.	
 
In addition, on August 29, 2008, SAFE promulgated Circular 142, a notice regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested company of its capital contribution in foreign currency into Renminbi. Circular 142 restricts the use of Renminbi funds converted from foreign exchange. It requires that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the relevant government authority and may not be used to make equity investments in PRC, unless specifically provided otherwise. Moreover, the approved use of such Renminbi funds may not be changed without approval from SAFE. Renminbi funds converted from foreign exchange may not be used to repay loans in Renminbi if the proceeds of such loans have not yet been used. Any violation of Circular 142 may result in severe penalties, including substantial fines. We expect that if we convert the offering proceeds into Renminbi pursuant to Circular 142, the use of Renminbi funds will be for purposes within the business scope of the PRC subsidiaries as approved by the local bureau of Administration for Industry and Commerce. However, we may not be able to use such Renminbi funds to make equity investments in the PRC through our PRC subsidiaries. While we may not transfer the proceeds from this offering through our wholly owned subsidiaries for the purpose of domestic acquisitions, we may use the proceeds to acquire offshore entities with business operations in China. We may also use our cash flow from operations to fund our acquisitions as necessary.
 
We expect that the PRC regulations of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may continue to limit our use of proceeds of this offering. There are no costs associated with registering loans or capital contributions with relevant PRC authorities, other than nominal processing charges. Under PRC laws and regulations, the PRC government authorities are required to process such approvals or registrations or deny our application within a maximum of 90 days. The actual time taken, however, may be longer due to administrative delay. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to our future plans to use the U.S. dollar proceeds we receive from this offering for our expansion and operations in China. If we fail to receive such registrations or approvals, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and ability to fund and expand our business.
 
Regulations on Dividend Distribution
 
Under applicable PRC laws and regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, foreign-invested enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund statutory reserves of up to 50% of the registered capital of the
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enterprise. Statutory reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Each of wholly owned subsidiaries in China must comply with the foregoing regulations.
 
Under PRC law, each of our subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries in China are required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation. As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, as of August 31, 2010, we had $4.9 million in statutory reserves, or 15.0% of total equity, that are not distributable as cash dividends. Our PRC subsidiaries have not historically paid any dividends to our offshore entities from their accumulated profits. However, we do not expect that the statutory reserve requirement will materially limit our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders or our plan to expand our business because we are to date only required to set aside an additional $2.9 million to satisfy the maximum requirement of statutory reserves for all of our PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries.
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MANAGEMENT
 
Directors and Executive Officers
 
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus.

Directors and Executive Officers	 	Age	 	Position/Title	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bangxin Zhang	 	 	30	 	 	Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer	
Yundong Cao	 	 	30	 	 	Director and President	
Jane Jie Sun	 	 	42	 	 	Independent Director Appointee*	
Wai Chau Lin	 	 	45	 	 	Independent Director Appointee*	
Yachao Liu	 	 	28	 	 	Vice President	
Yunfeng Bai	 	 	29	 	 	Vice President	
Joseph Kauffman	 	 	33	 	 	Chief Financial Officer	

 	 	 	
*	 	Jane Jie Sun and Wai Chau Lin have accepted our appointment to be our independent directors, effective upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part.	
 
Bangxin Zhang is one of our founders and has served as our chairman and chief executive officer since our inception. Mr. Zhang has been instrumental to the development and success of our business. Mr. Zhang provides vision, overall management, and strategic decision-making relating to marketing, investment planning, and corporate development. Mr. Zhang received his bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Sichuan University in 2001, was in the postgraduate program of the Life Science School of Peking University from 2002 to 2007, and received an EMBA degree from China Europe International Business School in 2009.
 
Yundong Cao is one of our founders and has served as our director and president since our inception. Mr. Cao has been instrumental to the development and success of our business. Mr. Cao is also a vice chairman of the China Association of Private Education. Mr. Cao was named an  Influential Person in Chinese Education  by Beijing Evening News in 2010, and received an  Outstanding Principals in After-school Basic Education Sector  award from the China Association of Private Education in 2009. Mr. Cao received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Yantai University in 2002, his master’s degree from Peking University in 2007 and his EMBA degree from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in 2010.
 
Jane Jie Sun will serve as an independent director upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Ms. Sun has extensive experience in SEC reporting, finance and accounting. She has served as the chief financial officer of Ctrip.com International, Ltd, a NASDAQ-listed company, since December 2005. Prior to joining Ctrip, Ms. Sun served as the head of the SEC and External Reporting Division of Applied Materials, Inc., where she worked from 1997 to 2005. Prior to joining Applied Materials, Inc., Ms. Sun worked with KPMG LLP in Silicon Valley, California for five years. Ms. Sun is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the State of California Certified Public Accountants. Ms. Sun received her bachelor’s degree from the Business School of the University of Florida with High Honors. She also attended the undergraduate program at Beijing University Law School from 1987 to 1989.
 
Wai Chau Lin will serve as an independent director upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Lin is a founder of Longtop Financial Technologies Limited, or Longtop, an NYSE-listed company, and has served as its director and chief executive officer since its inception in June 1996. He has over 21 years of experience in China’s IT industry. Prior to founding Longtop, Mr. Lin held various positions, including technology department manager, sales department manager, vice general manager and general manager, at Xiamen Xindeco Computer Company from 1985 to 1996. Mr. Lin has also won several industry awards, including Fujian Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award, Xiamen Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award and Fujian Software Talent Award. He served as the vice president of Xiamen Youth Chamber of Commerce and is currently a representative on the People’s Congress
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for the Siming District of Xiamen City. He was a visiting professor at the Software School of Xiamen University. Mr. Lin received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Fudan University.
 
Yachao Liu has served as our vice president since January 2008. In this capacity, he is in charge of our online course offerings. Dr. Liu was director of our middle school division between September 2005 and January 2008. Dr. Liu received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanics from Peking University in 2003 and Ph.D. from the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Science in 2008.
 
Yunfeng Bai has served as our vice president since June 2008. In this capacity, he oversees our personalized premium services. Mr. Bai founded our high school division in 2005 and was the director of our Beijing operations from June 2006 through May 2008. Mr. Bai received his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Automation from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2003, attended the CEO class of Guanghua Management School of Peking University between 2008 and 2009 and is currently in the EMBA program of China Europe International Business School.
 
Joseph Kauffman has served as our Chief Financial Officer since June 2010. Prior to joining us, Mr. Kauffman headed M&A and international business development at New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc., where he joined the senior management team before its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2006. Between 1999 and 2004, Mr. Kauffman was a senior manager at The Coca-Cola Company in China and held various operating, strategy and business development roles. Mr. Kauffman received his bachelor’s degree from Williams College in 1999 and an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School in 2006.
 
Board of Directors
 
Our board of directors currently consists of two directors. Two additional independent directors will join the board upon completion of this offering. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification. A director may vote with respect to any contract or transaction in which he or she is materially interested provided the nature of the interest is disclosed prior to its consideration. Subject to our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, the directors may exercise all the powers of our company to borrow money, mortgage his or her undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures or other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party. We intend to have a majority of independent directors serving on our board of directors within one year of this offering.
 
Committees of the Board of Directors
 
We have established three committees under the board of director, namely the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee. We have adopted a charter for each of the three committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
 
Audit Committee. Our audit committee will consist of Ms. Jane Jie Sun, Mr. Yundong Cao and Mr. Wai Chau Lin. Ms. Sun and Mr. Lin satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. In addition, Ms. Sun and Mr. Lin meet the “independence” standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act will be the chair of our audit committee. The purpose of the audit committee is to assist our board of directors with its oversight responsibilities regarding: (i) the integrity of our financial statements, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence and (iv) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditor. The audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 	•  	appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;	

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 	•  	discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to monitor and control major financial risk exposures;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance.	
 
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee will consist of Mr. Bangxin Zhang, Mr. Wai Chau Lin and Ms. Jane Jie Sun. Mr. Lin and Ms. Sun satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and executive officers. Our Chief Executive Officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:

 	•  	reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board for its approval, the compensation for our chief executive officer and other executive officers;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reviewing and recommending to the board for determination with respect to the compensation of our non-employee directors; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reviewing periodically and approving any incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements.	
 
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Mr. Bangxin Zhang, Mr. Wai Chau Lin and Ms. Jane Jie Sun. Mr. Lin and Ms. Sun satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:

 	•  	selecting and recommending to the board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills, experience and diversity;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees of the board; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	advising the board periodically with regards to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of corporate governance and on any remedial action to be taken.	
 
Duties of Directors
 
Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a duty of loyalty to act honestly in good faith with a view to our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association. Our company has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached.
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Terms of Directors and Officers
 
Our officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors. Our directors are not subject to a term of office and hold office until such time as they are removed from office by special resolution or the unanimous written resolution of all shareholders. A director will be removed from office automatically if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; or (ii) dies or is found by our company to be or becomes of unsound mind.
 
Employment Agreements
 
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Under these agreements, each of our senior executive officers is employed for a specified time period. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without advance notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the executive officer will not be entitled to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination, and the executive officer’s right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we are required to provide compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay, as expressly required by the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the executive officer is based. The executive officer may terminate the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice, if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s duties and responsibilities inconsistent in any material and adverse respect with his or her title and position or a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual salary before the next annual salary review, or if otherwise approved by the board of directors.
 
Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment, any of our confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secretes of our clients or prospective clients, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in confidence to us all inventions, designs and trade secrets which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice and to assign all right, title and interest in them to us, and assist us in obtaining patents, copyrights and other legal rights for these inventions, designs and trade secrets.
 
In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her employment and for one year following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) approach our clients, customers or contacts or other persons or entities introduced to the executive officer for the purpose of doing business with such persons or entities that will harm our business relationships with these persons or entities; (ii) assume employment with or provide services to any of our competitors, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or otherwise, any of our competitors; or (iii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any of our employees who is employed by us on or after the date of the executive officer’s termination, or in the year preceding such termination.
 
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
 
For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, the aggregate compensation we paid to our executive officers was approximately $0.5 million. Such amounts included the amounts we paid for pension, retirement or similar benefits for our executive officers in compliance with requirements under the PRC laws. No other pension, retirement or similar benefits has been set aside or accrued for our executive officers or directors. None of our non-executive directors has a service contract with us that provides for benefits upon termination of services. We do not pay our non-executive directors for their services on our board.
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Share Incentive Plan
 
In June 2010, we adopted our 2010 Share Incentive Plan in order to attract and retain the best available personnel, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of our business. The plans permit the grant of options to purchase our Class A common shares, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, dividend equivalent rights and other instruments as deemed appropriate by the administrator under the plans. The maximum aggregate number of Class A common shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under our share incentive plan is 18,750,000 shares. As of the date of this prospectus, we have granted 5,419,500 restricted Class A common shares under this plan to our employees.
 
The following table summarizes, as of the date of this prospectus, the restricted shares granted under our share incentive plan to our directors and executive officers and to other individuals as a group.

 	 	Number of
	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Class A
	 	 	 	Vesting
	 	 	
 	 	Restricted
	 	Date of
	 	Commencement
	 	Vesting
	
Name	 	Shares	 	Grant	 	Date	 	Schedule	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Yachao Liu	 	*	 	July 26, 2010	 	July 26, 2010	 	4 years	
Yunfeng Bai	 	*	 	July 26, 2010	 	July 26, 2010	 	4 years	
Joseph Kauffman	 	*	 	July 26, 2010	 	July 26, 2010	 	4 years	
Directors and officers as a group	 	2,125,000	 	—	 	July 26, 2010	 	4 years	
Other individuals as a group	 	3,294,500	 	—	 	July 26, 2010	 	1 to 4 years	
Total	 	5,419,500	 	—	 	July 26, 2010	 	—	

 	 	 	
*	 	Less than 1% of the outstanding common shares.	
 
The following paragraphs describe the principal terms of our share incentive plan:
 
Plan Administration. The plan will be administered by a committee of one or more directors to whom the board shall delegate the authority to grant or amend awards to participants other than any of the committee members. The committee will determine the provisions and terms and conditions of each award grant.
 
Awards and Award Agreement. Pursuant to our 2001 Share Incentive Plan, we may grant options, restricted shares or restricted share units to our directors, employees or consultants. Awards granted under our plan are evidenced by award agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each award, which may include the term of an award, the provisions applicable in the event the participant’s employment or service terminates, and our authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an award.
 
Option Exercise Price. The exercise price of an option shall be determined by the plan administrator and set forth in the award agreement and may be a fixed or variable price related to the fair market value of the shares, to the extent not prohibited by applicable laws. Subject to certain limits set forth in the plan, the exercise price may be amended or adjusted in the absolute discretion of the plan administrator, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. To the extent not prohibited by applicable laws or any exchange rule, a downward adjustment of the exercise prices of options shall be effective without the approval of the shareholders or the approval of the affected participants.
 
Eligibility. We may grant awards to our employees, directors and consultants or those of any of our related entities, which include our subsidiaries or any entities in which we hold a substantial ownership interest, as determined by our plan administrator. Awards other than incentive share options may be granted to our employees, directors and consultants. Incentive Share Options may be granted only to employees of our company or a parent or a subsidiary of our company.
 
Term of the Awards. The term of each award grant shall be determined by our plan administrator, provided that the term shall not exceed 10 years from the date of the grant.
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Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines, or the award agreement specifies, the vesting schedule. Restricted Share granted under our 2010 Share Incentive Plan have either a four-year, a two-year or a one-year vesting schedule. We have the right to repurchase the restricted shares until vested.
 
Transfer Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided by our plan administrator, an award may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Our plan administrator by express provision in the award or an amendment may permit an award (other than an incentive share option) to be transferred to or exercised by certain persons related to the participant.
 
Corporate Transactions. Except as may provided otherwise in an individual award agreement or any other written agreement entered into by a participant and us, in the event of a change-of-control or other corporate transactions, our plan administrator may determine to provide for one or more of the following: (i) each award outstanding under the plan to terminate at a specific time in the future and give each participant the right to exercise the vested portion of the awards during a period of time as determined by our plan administrator; or (ii) termination of any award in exchange for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of the award; or (iii) the replacement of such award with other rights or property selected by our plan administrator; or (iv) the assumption of or substitution of such award by our successor, parent or subsidiary, with appropriate adjustments; or (v) payment of an award in cash based on the value of shares on the date of the corporate transaction plus reasonable interest on the award.
 
Amendment and Termination of the Plan. With the approval of our board, our plan administrator may, at any time and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the plan, provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the our shareholders to the extent such approval is required by applicable laws, or in the event that such amendment increases the number of shares available under our plan, permits our plan administrator to extend the term of our plan or the exercise period for an option beyond ten years from the date of grant, or results in a material increase in benefits or a change in eligibility requirements, unless we decides to follow home country practice.
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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common shares as of the date of this prospectus by:

 	•  	each of our directors and executive officers; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common shares.	
 
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person.

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Shares Beneficially
	 	
 	 	Shares Beneficially
	 	 	Owned after This Offering	 	
 	 	Owned Prior to This Offering	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	% of Voting
	 	
 	 	Number	 	 	%(1)	 	 	Number	 	 	%(2)	 	 	Power(3)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Directors and Executive Officers:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bangxin Zhang(4)	 	 	59,550,000	 	 	 	47.6	%	 	 	59,550,000	 	 	 	40.0	%	 	 	46.7	%	
Yundong Cao(5)	 	 	20,300,000	 	 	 	16.2	%	 	 	20,300,000	 	 	 	13.6	%	 	 	15.9	%	
Jane Jie Sun	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Wai Chau Lin	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Yachao Liu(6)	 	 	8,812,500	 	 	 	7.1	%	 	 	8,812,500	 	 	 	5.9	%	 	 	6.9	%	
Yunfeng Bai(7)	 	 	6,337,500	 	 	 	5.1	%	 	 	6,337,500	 	 	 	4.3	%	 	 	5.0	%	
Joseph Kauffman	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
All directors and executive officers as a group	 	 	95,000,000	 	 	 	76.0	%	 	 	95,000,000	 	 	 	63.8	%	 	 	74.6	%	
Principal Shareholders:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bright Unison Limited(8)	 	 	59,550,000	 	 	 	47.6	%	 	 	59,550,000	 	 	 	40.0	%	 	 	46.7	%	
Tiger Global Five China Holdings (9)	 	 	21,875,000	 	 	 	17.5	%	 	 	21,875,000	 	 	 	14.7	%	 	 	17.2	%	
Central Glory Investments Limited (10)	 	 	14,550,000	 	 	 	11.6	%	 	 	14,550,000	 	 	 	9.8	%	 	 	11.4	%	
KTB China Optimum Fund and affiliate fund (11)	 	 	8,125,000	 	 	 	6.5	%	 	 	8,125,000	 	 	 	5.5	%	 	 	6.4	%	
Perfect Wisdom International Limited (12)	 	 	8,812,500	 	 	 	7.1	%	 	 	8,812,500	 	 	 	5.9	%	 	 	6.9	%	
Excellent New Limited(13)	 	 	6,337,500	 	 	 	5.1	%	 	 	6,337,500	 	 	 	4.3	%	 	 	5.0	%	

 	 	 	
(1)	 	For each person and group included in this column, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by such person or group by 125,000,000, being the sum of the total number of common shares outstanding as of the date of the prospectus and the number of common shares issuable upon conversion of all outstanding series A preferred shares at the conversion rate of one preferred share to one Class B common share.	

(2)	 	For each person and group included in this column, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by such person or group by 149,000,000, being the total number of common shares outstanding immediately after the closing of this offering, assuming that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.	

(3)	 	Percentage of total voting power represents voting power with respect to all of our Class A and Class B common shares, as a single class. Each holder of our Class B common shares is entitled to ten votes per Class B common share and each holder of Class A common shares is entitled to one vote per Class A common share held by our shareholders on all matters submitted to them for a vote. Our Class A common shares and Class B common shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law. Our Class B common shares are convertible at any time by the holder into Class A common shares on a 1:1 basis.	
 	 	 	
(4)	 	Consists of 59,550,000 Class B common shares held by Bright Unison Limited, a British Virgin Islands company. Bangxin Zhang is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Bright Unison Limited. Bangxin Zhang’s business address is c/o 18/F, Hesheng Building, 32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China.	
 	 	 	
(5)	 	Consists of (i) 14,550,000 Class B common shares held by Central Glory Investments Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, to which Yundong Cao is the sole shareholder and the sole director and (ii) 5,750,000 Class B common shares held by Passion Prance Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, to which Yundong Cao’s spouse is the sole shareholder and the sole director. Mr. Cao	

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 	 	disclaims beneficiary ownership of the shares held by Passion Prance Limited. Yundong Cao’s business address is c/o 18/F, Hesheng Building, 32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China.	

(6)	 	Consists of 8,812,500 Class B common shares held by Perfect Wisdom International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company. Yachao Liu is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Perfect Wisdom International Limited. Yachao Liu’s business address is c/o 18/F, Hesheng Building, 32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China.	

(7)	 	Consists of 6,337,500 Class B common shares held by Excellent New Limited, a British Virgin Islands company. Yunfeng Bai is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Excellent New Limited. Yunfeng Bai’s business address is c/o 18/F, Hesheng Building, 32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China.	

(8)	 	Bright Unison Limited is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Bangxin Zhang is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Bright Unison Limited. Its registered office is at P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.	

(9)	 	Tiger Global Five China Holdings is a company organized under the laws of Mauritius and controlled by Tiger Global Five Parent Holdings, which is in turn controlled by Tiger Global Private Investment Partners V, L.P., or PIP V. PIP V is controlled by its general partner Tiger Global PIP Performance V, L.P., which is controlled by its general partner Tiger Global PIP Management V, Ltd., which is in turn controlled by Charles P. Coleman III. The registered office of Tiger Global Five China Holdings is Twenty Seven, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius.	

(10)	 	Central Glory Investments Limited is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Yundong Cao is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Central Glory Investments Limited. Its registered office is at P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.	

(11)	 	Consists of (i) 3,125,000 Class B common shares held by KTB China Optimum Fund and (ii) 5,000,000 Class B common shares issuable upon the conversion of the Series A preferred shares held by KTB China Optimum Fund. KTB China Optimum Fund was formed in Korea, and its general partner is KTB Capital Co., Ltd. KTB Capital Co., Ltd., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of KTB Securities Co., Ltd., a listed company on Korea Stock Exchange, has the discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by KTB China Optimum Fund. KTB China Optimum Fund’s registered office is at KTB network building 826-14 Yeoksam-dong Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea.	

(12)	 	Perfect Wisdom International Limited is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Yachao Liu is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Perfect Wisdom International Limited. Its registered office is at P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.	

(13)	 	Excellent New Limited is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Yunfeng Bai is the sole shareholder and the sole director of Excellent New Limited. Its registered office is at P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.	
 
As of the date of this prospectus, none of our outstanding common shares or Series A preferred shares are held of record by any persons in the United States. None of our shareholders has informed us that it is a broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer. Our common shares are divided into Class A common shares and Class B common shares. Holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B common shares are entitled to ten votes per share. We will issue Class A common shares represented by our ADSs in this offering. All of our shareholders as of September 29, 2010 hold our Class B common shares upon the closing of this offering and may choose to convert their Class B common shares into the same number of Class A common shares at any time. See “Description of Share Capital—Common Shares” for a more detailed description of our Class A common shares and Class B common shares. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.
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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Contractual Arrangements with Our Affiliated Entities and Their Shareholders
 
See “Our Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Affiliated Entities.”
 
Private Placement
 
See “Description of Share Capital—History of Securities Issuances.”
 
Shareholders’ Agreement
 
See “Description of Share Capital—Shareholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights.”
 
Employment Agreement
 
See “Management—Employment Agreements.”
 
Stock Incentives
 
See “Management—Share Incentive Plan.”
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
 
We are a Cayman Islands company and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, which is referred to as the Companies Law below.
 
We have adopted the fourth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. This new memorandum and articles of association will become effective upon completion of this offering and will replace the current memorandum and articles of association in its entirety. The following are summaries of material provisions of our post-offering memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law insofar as they relate to the material terms of our common shares that we expect will become effective upon the closing of this offering.
 
Common Shares
 
General. Our common shares are divided into Class A common shares and Class B common shares. Holders of our Class A common shares and Class B common shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Our authorized share capital is $2,000,000 divided into 500,000,000 Class A common shares, with a par value of $0.001 each, 500,000,000 Class B common shares of $0.001 each and 1,000,000,000 shares of $0.001 each. Certificates representing the common shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are nonresidents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
 
Dividends. The holders of our common shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Law.
 
Conversion.  Each Class B common share is convertible into one Class A common share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A common shares are not convertible into Class B common shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B common shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder (as defined in our articles of association), such Class B common shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A common shares. In addition, if at any time Mr. Bangxin Zhang, Mr. Yundong Cao, Mr. Yachao Liu, Mr. Yunfeng Bai, Tiger Global Five China Holdings and KTB China Optimum Fund and their respective affiliates collectively own less than 5% of the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares (taking into account all of the issued and outstanding preferred shares on an as-converted basis), each issued and outstanding Class B common share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one share of Class A common share, and we shall not issue any Class B common shares thereafter.
 
Voting Rights. In respect of matters requiring shareholders’ vote, each Class A common share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B common share is entitled to ten votes. Shareholders may attend any shareholders’ meeting and vote in person or by proxy, and in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy; we currently do not allow shareholders to vote electronically. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of our board of directors or one or more shareholders holding at least 10% of the paid up voting share capital, present in person or by proxy.
 
A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative, who holds no less than 10% of our voting share capital. Shareholders’ meetings are held annually and may be convened by our board of directors on its own initiative or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate at least one-third of our voting share capital. Advance notice of at least ten days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other shareholders’ meetings.
 
An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires a simple majority of votes cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires no less than two-thirds of the votes cast. A special resolution is required for important matters such as a change of name. Our shareholders may effect certain changes by ordinary resolution, including increase the amount of our authorized share capital, consolidate and
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divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares, and cancel any shares.
 
Transfer of Shares. Subject to the restrictions of our memorandum and articles of association, as applicable, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her common shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board.
 
Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decline to register any transfer of any common share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any share unless (a) the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; (b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; (c) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; (d) in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four; (e) the shares conceded are free of any lien in favor of us; or (f) a fee of such maximum sum as the New York Stock Exchange may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as our board of directors may from time to time require, is paid to us in respect thereof.
 
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year.
 
Liquidation. On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of common shares shall be distributed among the holders of the common shares on a pro rata basis. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately.
 
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture.
 
Redemption of Shares. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by special resolution.
 
Variations of Rights of Shares. All or any of the special rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, be varied either with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking in priority to or pari passu with such previously existing shares.
 
Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our common shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See “Additional Information.”
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Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of our post-offering memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:

 	•  	authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders.	
 
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
 
History of Securities Issuances
 
The following is a summary of our securities issuances since the inception of TAL Group:
 
Common Shares
 
In January 2008, in connection with our corporate restructuring and the incorporation of our offshore holding company, we issued 565 common shares to Bangxin Zhang, 260 common shares to Yundong Cao, 100 common shares to Yachao Liu and 75 common shares to Yunfeng Bai, the beneficial owners of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, based on their respective interests in these two companies, immediately prior to the restructuring.
 
In January 2009, we issued 67,799,435 common shares to Bangxin Zhang, 31,199,740 common shares to Yundong Cao, 11,999,900 common shares to Yachao Liu and 8,999,925 common shares to Yunfeng Bai based on their respective interests in our offshore holding company, immediately prior to this issuance. In May 2009, Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai transferred all the common shares they held to their respective personal holding companies incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.
 
Preferred Shares
 
In February 2009, we issued an aggregate of 5,000,000 preferred shares to KTB/UCI China Ventures II Limited in a private placement at $1.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $5 million. In August 2010, KTB/UCI China Ventures II Limited transferred 5,000,000 preferred shares to its affiliate KTB China Optimum Fund. We refer to KTB/UCI China Ventures II and KTB China Optimum Fund collectively as “KTB.” Holders of our preferred shares are entitled to vote on an “as converted” basis together with the holders of common shares. Each preferred share will automatically convert into one common share upon completion of this offering.
 
Share Transfer to Tiger and KTB
 
In August 2009, Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai, or the Pre-IPO Individual Beneficial Owners, entered into an agreement to collectively sell an aggregate of 21,875,000 common shares for an aggregate price of $35 million to Tiger Global Five China Holdings, and an aggregate of 3,125,000 common shares for an aggregate price of $5 million to KTB China Optimum Fund.
 
Options
 
In connection with the sale of common shares to Tiger by the Pre-IPO Individual Beneficial Owners in August 2009, we and the Pre-IPO Individual Beneficial Owners granted an option to Tiger to acquire additional securities prior to our IPO at a fair market value to enable Tiger to increase its equity in our company to 25% on a fully diluted basis. If Tiger purchases additional shares from the Pre-IPO Individual Beneficial Owners, KTB has the right to purchase its pro rata portion of the shares offered by the Pre-IPO Individual Beneficial Owners calculated based on our shareholder agreement. Neither Tiger nor KTB will exercise their options to acquire our additional securities in connection with this offering offering.
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For options to be granted to certain of our directors, officers, employees and consultants under our share incentive plan, see “Management—Share Incentive Plan.”
 
Each of the aforementioned issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act regarding sales by an issuer made outside the U.S. No underwriters were involved in the securities issuances described above.
 
Shareholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights
 
In connection with the issuance and sale of our Series A preferred shares, we and our major shareholders entered into a shareholders’ agreement, dated February 12, 2009, which was amended and restated on August 12, 2009 in connection with the sale by our then shareholders to Tiger and KTB China Optimum Fund.
 
Under the shareholders’ agreement, KTB and Tiger were granted certain rights, including customary veto rights, tag-along rights, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and co-sale, registration rights and the right to elect one director each. The holder of our Series A preferred shares was granted conversion rights and liquidation rights with respect to the Series A preferred shares. Except for the registration rights, all of the rights of KTB and Tiger under the shareholders’ agreement will terminate upon the completion of this offering.
 
Under the terms of the agreement, from the date that is six months after the effective date of the registration statement for this offering, holders of at least 30% of the aggregate shares initially purchased by KTB and Tiger, together on an as-converted basis (collectively, the “Initial Holders”), may require us to effect the registration other than on Form F-3 (or a comparable form) for a public offering of their registrable securities with anticipated gross proceeds of at least $5 million in the aggregate.
 
Moreover, the Initial Holders may require us to effect the registration on Form F-3 for their registrable securities provided that Form F-3 (or a comparable form) is available for such offering and that the aggregate price to the public net of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions is not less than $0.5 million. We are only obliged to effect up to two demand registrations other than on Form F-3 and up to two demand registrations on Form F-3 (if available) during any twelve-month period. We have the right to defer filing for a period of no more than 90 days if our board of directors in good faith determines that filing of such registration will be materially detrimental to us and our shareholders, but we cannot utilize this right more than once in any twelve-month period or register any securities of our company for our own account or for the account of any other shareholder during such 90-day period. In the case where the number of registrable securities included in an underwritten public offering is to be reduced, the securities other than registrable shares must be reduced before any registrable securities may be reduced.
 
The Initial Holders also have “piggyback” registration rights, pursuant to which they may require us to register all or any part of the registrable securities then held by such holders when we file any registration statements for purposes of effecting a public offering of our securities (including a registration statement we file for shareholders other than the Initial Holders). In the case where the number of registrable securities included in an underwritten public offering is to be reduced, the securities other than registrable shares must be reduced before any registrable securities may be reduced. However, in no event shall the amount of securities included in such registration be reduced below 30% of the total shares requested to be included in the offering.
 
The registration rights shall terminate after (a) the fifth anniversary following the completion of this offering, or (b) with respect to any shareholder, such earlier time after the offering at which such holder (i) can sell all shares held by it in compliance with Rule 144(b)(1)(i) or (ii) under the the Securities Act, holds 1% or less of our outstanding common shares and all registrable securities held by such holder can be sold in any 90-day period without registration under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
 
Differences in Corporate Law
 
The Companies Law is modeled after companies legislation of the United Kingdom but does not follow recent United Kingdom statutory enactments. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to
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United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
 
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company voting together as one class if the shares to be issued to each shareholder in the consolidated or surviving company will have the same rights and economic value as the shares held in the relevant constituent company, or (b) a shareholder resolution of each constituent company passed by a majority in number representing 75% in value of the shareholders voting together as one class. The plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
 
In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:

 	•  	the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been met;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the arrangement is such that a businessman would reasonably approve; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law.	
 
When a take-over offer is made and accepted by holders of 90.0% of the shares affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
 
If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
 
Shareholders’ Suits. In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff and a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authority, which would in all likelihood be
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of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

 	•  	a company is acting or proposing to act illegally or ultra vires;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the act complained of, although not ultra vires, could be effected duly if authorized by more than a simple majority vote which has not been obtained; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”	
 
Transactions with Directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, transactions with directors must be approved by disinterested directors or by the shareholders, or otherwise proven to be fair to the company as of the time it is approved. Such transaction will be void or voidable, unless (i) the material facts of any interested directors’ interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the transaction is approved by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (ii) the material facts of any interested directors’ interests are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote thereon, and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the shareholders; or (iii) the transaction is fair to the company as of the time it is approved.
 
Cayman Islands laws do not restrict transactions with directors, requiring only that directors exercise a duty of care and owe a fiduciary duty to the companies for which they serve. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, subject to any separate requirement for audit committee approval under the NYSE rules or unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, so long as a director discloses the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement which he is interested in, such a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement in which such director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such a meeting.
 
Directors’ Fiduciary Duties. Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care generally requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, but subject to certain exceptions, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties.
 
Under Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company, and therefore it is considered that he or she owes the following duties to the company: a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company; a duty not to make a profit out of his or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so); and a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interests or his or her duty to a third party. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, there are indications that the courts are moving towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care.
 
Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, directors who are in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with our company shall declare the nature of their interest at a meeting of the board of directors. Following such declaration, a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract notwithstanding his interest.
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Majority Independent Board. A domestic U.S. company listed on the New York Stock Exchange must comply with the requirement that a majority of the board of directors must be comprised of independent directors as defined under Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange. As a Cayman Islands corporation, we are allowed to follow home country practices in lieu of certain corporate governance requirements under the NYSE rules where there is no similar requirement under the laws of the Cayman Islands. However, we have no present intention to rely on home country practice with respect to our corporate governance matters, and we intend to comply with the NYSE rules after the completion of this offering.
 
Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Under the DGCL, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by inclusion of such a restriction in its certificate of incorporation. Cayman Islands law and our post-offering articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.
 
Shareholder Proposals and Meeting of Shareholders. The DGCL does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, but in keeping with common law, Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
 
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than one-third of our paid-up voting share capital to requisition a special meeting of the shareholders, in which case the directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting; however, our articles do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
 
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors. We, however, will hold an annual shareholders’ meeting during each fiscal year, as required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
 
Cumulative Voting. Under the DGCL, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director.
 
There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands, but our post-offering articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
 
Removal of Directors. Under the DGCL, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our post-offering articles of association, directors can be removed by a special resolution of shareholders.
 
Transactions with Interested Shareholders. The DGCL contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by an amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws that is approved by its shareholders,
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it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock or who or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and owned 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among others, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
 
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of perpetuating a fraud on the minority shareholders.
 
Amendment of Governing Documents. Under the DGCL, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may be amended only if adopted and declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and the bylaws may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and may, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, also be amended by the board of directors. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, our post-offering memorandum and articles of association may be amended with a special resolution.
 
Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by our post-offering memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
 
Indemnification. Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
 
Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, we may indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with actions, suits or proceedings to which they are party or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their acting as our directors, officers, employees or agents, except through their own dishonesty, willful default or fraud. To be entitled to indemnification, these persons must have acted in good faith and in the best interest and not contrary to the interest of our company, and must not have acted in a manner willfully or grossly negligent and, with respect to any criminal action, they must have had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association may also provide for indemnification of such person in the case of a suit initiated by our company or in the right of our company.
 
We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and our articles of association, from and against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses incurred in connection with any litigation, suit or proceeding to which such director is or is threatened to be made a party, witness or other participant.
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and therefore is unenforceable.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
American Depositary Receipts
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary will issue the ADSs which you will be entitled to receive in this offering. Each ADS will represent an ownership interest in two Class A common shares which we will deposit with the custodian, as agent of the depositary, under the deposit agreement among ourselves, the depositary and yourself as an ADR holder. In the future, each ADS will also represent any securities, cash or other property deposited with the depositary but which they have not distributed directly to you. Unless specifically requested by you, all ADSs will be issued on the books of our depositary in book-entry form and periodic statements will be mailed to you which reflect your ownership interest in such ADSs. In our description, references to American depositary receipts or ADRs shall include the statements you will receive which reflect your ownership of ADSs.
 
The depositary’s office is located at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Floor 58, New York, NY, 10005-1401.
 
You may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, by having an ADS registered in your name on the books of the depositary, you are an ADR holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of an ADR holder described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
 
As an ADR holder, we will not treat you as a shareholder of ours and you will not have any shareholder rights. Cayman Island law governs shareholder rights. Because the depositary or its nominee will be the shareholder of record for the shares represented by all outstanding ADSs, shareholder rights rest with such record holder. Your rights are those of an ADR holder. Such rights derive from the terms of the deposit agreement to be entered into among us, the depositary and all registered holders from time to time of ADSs issued under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and its agents are also set out in the deposit agreement. Because the depositary or its nominee will actually be the registered owner of the Class A common shares, you must rely on it to exercise the rights of a shareholder on your behalf. The deposit agreement and the ADSs are governed by New York law.
 
The following is a summary of the material terms of the deposit agreement. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR which contains the terms of your ADSs. You can read a copy of the deposit agreement which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You may also obtain a copy of the deposit agreement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room which is located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. You may also find the registration statement and the attached deposit agreement on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Share Dividends and Other Distributions
 
How will I receive dividends and other distributions on the shares underlying my ADSs?
 
We may make various types of distributions with respect to our securities. The depositary has agreed that, to the extent practicable, it will pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares, after converting any cash received into U.S. dollars and, in all cases, making any necessary deductions provided for in the deposit agreement. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying securities that your ADSs represent.
 
Except as stated below, the depositary will deliver such distributions to ADR holders in proportion to their interests in the following manner:

 	•  	Cash. The depositary will distribute any U.S. dollars available to it resulting from a cash dividend or other cash distribution or the net proceeds of sales of any other distribution or portion thereof (to the	

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 	 	extent applicable), on an averaged or other practicable basis, subject to (i) appropriate adjustments for taxes withheld, (ii) such distribution being impermissible or impracticable with respect to certain registered ADR holders, and (iii) deduction of the depositary’s expenses in (1) converting any foreign currency to U.S. dollars to the extent that it determines that such conversion may be made on a reasonable basis, (2) transferring foreign currency or U.S. dollars to the United States by such means as the depositary may determine to the extent that it determines that such transfer may be made on a reasonable basis, (3) obtaining any approval or license of any governmental authority required for such conversion or transfer, which is obtainable at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time and (4) making any sale by public or private means in any commercially reasonable manner. If exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert a foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.	

 	•  	Shares. In the case of a distribution in shares, the depositary will issue additional ADRs to evidence the number of ADSs representing such shares. Only whole ADSs will be issued. Any shares which would result in fractional ADSs will be sold and the net proceeds will be distributed in the same manner as cash to the ADR holders entitled thereto.	
 	 	 	
 	•  	Rights to receive additional shares. In the case of a distribution of rights to subscribe for additional shares or other rights, if we provide evidence satisfactory to the depositary that it may lawfully distribute such rights, the depositary will distribute warrants or other instruments in the discretion of the depositary representing such rights. However, if we do not furnish such evidence, the depositary may:	

 	•  	sell such rights if practicable and distribute the net proceeds in the same manner as cash to the ADR holders entitled thereto; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	if it is not practicable to sell such rights, do nothing and allow such rights to lapse, in which case ADR holders will receive nothing.	
 
We have no obligation to file a registration statement under the Securities Act in order to make any rights available to ADR holders.

 	•  	Other Distributions. In the case of a distribution of securities or property other than those described above, the depositary may either (i) distribute such securities or property in any manner it deems equitable and practicable or (ii) to the extent the depositary deems distribution of such securities or property not to be equitable and practicable, sell such securities or property and distribute any net proceeds in the same way it distributes cash.	
 
If the depositary determines that any distribution described above is not practicable with respect to any specific registered ADR holder, the depositary may choose any method of distribution that it deems practicable for such ADR holder, including the distribution of foreign currency, securities or property, or it may retain such items, without paying interest on or investing them, on behalf of the ADR holder as deposited securities, in which case the ADSs will also represent the retained items.
 
Any U.S. dollars will be distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents. Fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the depositary in accordance with its then current practices.
 
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADR holders.
 
There can be no assurance that the depositary will be able to convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any property, rights, shares or other securities at a specified price, nor that any of such transactions can be completed within a specified time period.
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Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
 
How does the depositary issue ADSs?
 
The depositary will issue ADSs if you or your broker deposit shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian and pay the fees and expenses owing to the depositary in connection with such issuance. In the case of the ADSs to be issued under this prospectus, we will arrange with the underwriters named herein to deposit such shares.
 
Shares deposited in the future with the custodian must be accompanied by certain delivery documentation, including instruments showing that such shares have been properly transferred or endorsed to the person on whose behalf the deposit is being made.
 
The custodian will hold all deposited shares (including those being deposited by or on our behalf in connection with the offering to which this prospectus relates) for the account of the depositary. ADR holders thus have no direct ownership interest in the shares and only have such rights as are contained in the deposit agreement. The custodian will also hold any additional securities, property and cash received on or in substitution for the deposited shares. The deposited shares and any such additional items are referred to as “deposited securities”.
 
Upon each deposit of shares, receipt of related delivery documentation and compliance with the other provisions of the deposit agreement, including the payment of the fees and charges of the depositary and any taxes or other fees or charges owing, the depositary will issue an ADR or ADRs in the name or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the number of ADSs to which such person is entitled. All of the ADSs issued will, unless specifically requested to the contrary, be part of the depositary’s direct registration system, and a registered holder will receive periodic statements from the depositary which will show the number of ADSs registered in such holder’s name. An ADR holder can request that the ADSs not be held through the depositary’s direct registration system and that a certificated ADR be issued.
 
How do ADR holders cancel an ADS and obtain deposited securities?
 
When you turn in your ADR certificate at the depositary’s office, or when you provide proper instructions and documentation in the case of direct registration ADSs, the depositary will, upon payment of certain applicable fees, charges and taxes, deliver the underlying shares to you or upon your written order. In the case of certificated ADSs, delivery will be made at the custodian’s office. At your risk, expense and request, the depositary may deliver deposited securities at such other place as you may request.
 
The depositary may only restrict the withdrawal of deposited securities in connection with:

 	•  	temporary delays caused by closing our transfer books or those of the depositary or the deposit of shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities.	
 
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
 
Record Dates
 
The depositary may, after consultation with us if practicable, fix record dates for the determination of the registered ADR holders who will be entitled (or obligated, as the case may be):

 	•  	to receive any distribution on or in respect of shares,	
 	 	 	
 	•  	to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at a meeting of holders of shares,	

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 	•  	to pay the fee assessed by the depositary for administration of the ADR program and for any expenses as provided for in the ADR, or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	to receive any notice or to act in respect of other matters,	
 
all subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.
 
Voting Rights
 
How do I vote?
 
If you are an ADR holder and the depositary asks you to provide it with voting instructions, you may instruct the depositary how to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie your ADSs. As soon as practicable after receiving notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies from us, the depositary will distribute to the registered ADR holders a notice stating such information as is contained in the voting materials received by the depositary and describing how you may instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie your ADSs, including instructions for giving a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in the manner and on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as is practical, subject to the provisions of and governing the underlying shares, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. The depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion. Furthermore, neither the depositary nor its agents are responsible for any failure to carry out any voting instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any vote. We allow the depositary as a shareholder on record to attend any shareholders’ meeting and vote by its duly authorized representative or by proxy; however, we currently do not allow shareholders to vote electronically.
 
There is no guarantee that you will receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
 
The shares represented by the ADSs may only be voted through the depositary. ADR holders will not be able to attend and vote at meetings of shareholders other than through the depositary itself. To the extent an ADR holder wishes to attend and vote at any such meeting, such ADR holder would be required to cancel such ADR holder’s ADSs and become a shareholder of the company prior to the record date established by us for such meeting. For information on how a shareholder of the company is able to vote, please see “Description of Share Capital — Common Shares.”
 
In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.
 
Reports and Other Communications
 
Will ADR holders be able to view our reports?
 
The depositary will make available for inspection by ADR holders at the offices of the depositary and the custodian the deposit agreement, the provisions of or governing deposited securities, and any written communications from us which are both received by the custodian or its nominee as a holder of deposited securities and made generally available to the holders of deposited securities.
 
Additionally, if we make any written communications generally available to holders of our shares, and we furnish copies thereof (or English translations or summaries) to the depositary, it will distribute the same to registered ADR holders.
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Fees and Expenses
 
What fees and expenses will I be responsible for paying?
 
The depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of shares, issuances in respect of share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose ADRs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, $5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered, as the case may be. The depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of a share distribution, rights and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.
 
The following additional charges shall be incurred by the ADR holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing shares or by any party surrendering ADSs or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is applicable:

 	•  	a fee of $1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers of certificated or direct registration ADRs;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	a fee of up to $0.05 per ADS for any cash distribution made pursuant to the deposit agreement;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	a fee of up to $0.05 per ADS per calendar year (or portion thereof) for services performed by the depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year and shall be assessed against holders of ADRs as of the record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable in the manner described in the next succeeding provision);	
 	 	 	
 	•  	reimbursement of such fees, charges and expenses as are incurred by the depositary and/or any of the depositary’s agents (including, without limitation, the custodian and expenses incurred on behalf of holders in connection with compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment) in connection with the servicing of the shares, the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (which charge shall be assessed on a proportionate basis against holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions);	
 	 	 	
 	•  	a fee for the distribution of securities (or the sale of securities in connection with a distribution), such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (treating all such securities as if they were shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the depositary to those holders entitled thereto;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at your request in connection with the deposit or delivery of shares;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfer of deposited securities on any applicable register in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	expenses of the depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars.	
 
We will pay all other charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the depositary. The charges described above may be amended from time to time by agreement between us and the depositary.
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Our depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses and exchange application and listing fees. Neither the depositary nor we can determine the exact amount to be made available to us because (i) the number of ADSs that will be issued and outstanding, (ii) the level of fees to be charged to holders of ADSs and (iii) our reimbursable expenses related to the ADR program are not known at this time. The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may generally refuse to provide services to any holder until the fees and expenses owing by such holder for those services or otherwise are paid.
 
Payment of Taxes
 
ADR holders must pay any tax or other governmental charge payable by the custodian or the depositary on any ADS or ADR, deposited security or distribution. If an ADR holder owes any tax or other governmental charge, the depositary may (i) deduct the amount thereof from any cash distributions, or (ii) sell deposited securities (by public or private sale) and deduct the amount owing from the net proceeds of such sale. In either case the ADR holder remains liable for any shortfall. Additionally, if any tax or governmental charge is unpaid, the depositary may also refuse to effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of deposited securities or withdrawal of deposited securities until such payment is made. If any tax or governmental charge is required to be withheld on any cash distribution, the depositary may deduct the amount required to be withheld from any cash distribution or, in the case of a non-cash distribution, sell the distributed property or securities (by public or private sale) to pay such taxes and distribute any remaining net proceeds to the ADR holders entitled thereto.
 
By holding an ADR or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to indemnify us, the depositary, its custodian and any of our or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.
 
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
 
If we take certain actions that affect the deposited securities, including (i) any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or other reclassification of deposited securities or (ii) any distributions not made to holders of ADRs or (iii) any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, then the depositary may choose to:
 
(1)  amend the form of ADR;
 
(2)  distribute additional or amended ADRs;
 
(3)  distribute cash, securities or other property it has received in connection with such actions;
 
(4)  sell any securities or property received and distribute the proceeds as cash; or
 
(5)  none of the above.
 
If the depositary does not choose any of the above options, any of the cash, securities or other property it receives will constitute part of the deposited securities and each ADS will then represent a proportionate interest in such property.
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Amendment and Termination
 
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
 
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADSs without your consent for any reason. ADR holders must be given at least 30 days notice of any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of ADR holders. Such notice need not describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, but must give ADR holders a means to access the text of such amendment. We will file such amendment with the Securities and Exchange Commission through its electronic filing system, which provides ADR holders with free access to the text of any such amendment and we will bear any expenses that may be incurred for such filing. If an ADR holder continues to hold an ADR or ADRs after being so notified, such ADR holder is deemed to agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the deposit agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, we and the depositary may amend or supplement the deposit agreement and the ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or supplement may take effect before a notice is given or within any other period of time as required for compliance. No amendment, however, will impair your right to surrender your ADSs and receive the underlying securities, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
 
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
 
The depositary may, and shall at our written direction, terminate the deposit agreement and the ADRs by mailing notice of such termination to the registered holders of ADRs at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination; provided, however, if the depositary shall have (i) resigned as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement within 45 days of the date of such resignation, and (ii) been removed as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders of ADRs unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement on the 90th day after our notice of removal was first provided to the depositary. After termination, the depositary’s only responsibility will be (i) to deliver deposited securities to ADR holders who surrender their ADRs, and (ii) to hold or sell distributions received on deposited securities. As soon as practicable after the expiration of six months from the termination date, the depositary will sell the deposited securities which remain and hold the net proceeds of such sales (as long as it may lawfully do so), without liability for interest, in trust for the ADR holders who have not yet surrendered their ADRs. After making such sale, the depositary shall have no obligations except to account for such proceeds and other cash.
 
Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADR holders
 
Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the depositary; limits on liability to ADR holders and holders of ADSs
 
Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or cancellation of any ADRs, or the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, and from time to time, we or the depositary or its custodian may require:

 	•  	payment with respect thereto of (i) any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge, (ii) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of shares upon any applicable register and (iii) any applicable fees and expenses described in the deposit agreement;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the production of proof satisfactory to it of (i) the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature and (ii) such other information, including without limitation, information as to citizenship,	

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 	 	residence, exchange control approval, beneficial ownership of any securities, compliance with applicable law, regulations, provisions of or governing deposited securities and terms of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, as it may deem necessary or proper; and	

 	•  	compliance with such regulations as the depositary may establish consistent with the deposit agreement.	
 
The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits of shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or the withdrawal of shares, may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the ADRs register or any register for deposited securities is closed or when any such action is deemed advisable by the depositary; provided that the ability to withdrawal shares may only be limited under the following circumstances: (i) temporary delays caused by closing transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books or the deposit of shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes, and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any laws or governmental regulations relating to ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities.
 
The deposit agreement expressly limits the obligations and liability of the depositary, ourselves and our respective agents. Neither we nor the depositary nor any such agent will be liable if:

 	•  	any present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, the Cayman Islands, the People’s Republic of China (for this section only, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or securities exchange or market or automated quotation system, the provisions of or governing any deposited securities, any present or future provision of our charter, any act of God, war, terrorism or other circumstance beyond our, the depositary’s or our respective agents’ control shall prevent, delay or subject to any civil or criminal penalty, any act which the deposit agreement or the ADRs provide shall be done or performed by us, the depositary or our respective agents (including, without limitation, voting);	
 	 	 	
 	•  	it exercises or fails to exercise discretion under the deposit agreement or the ADR;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	it performs its obligations under the deposit agreement and ADRs without gross negligence or bad faith;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	it takes any action or refrains from taking any action in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting shares for deposit, any registered holder of ADRs, or any other person believed by it to be competent to give such advice or information; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	it relies upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.	
 
Neither the depositary nor its agents have any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs. We and our agents shall only be obligated to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs, which in our opinion may involve us in expense or liability, if indemnity satisfactory to us against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability is furnished as often as may be required. The depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the deposit agreement, any registered holder or holders of ADRs, any ADRs or otherwise related to the deposit agreement or ADRs to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. The depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of deposited securities or otherwise. Furthermore, the depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any custodian that is not a branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
 
Additionally, none of us, the depositary or the custodian shall be liable for the failure by any registered holder of ADRs or beneficial owner therein to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid
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against such holder’s or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. Neither we nor the depositary shall incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by holders or beneficial owners on account of their ownership of ADRs or ADSs.
 
Neither the depositary nor its agents will be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the deposited securities, for the manner in which any such vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. Neither the depositary nor any of its agents shall be liable to registered holders of ADRs or beneficial owners of interests in ADSs for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including, without limitation, lost profits) of any form incurred by any person or entity, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought.
 
The depositary may own and deal in any class of our securities and in ADSs.
 
Disclosure of Interest in ADSs
 
To the extent that the provisions of or governing any deposited securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of deposited securities, other shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, you agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable instructions we may provide in respect thereof. We reserve the right to instruct you to deliver your ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of the deposited securities so as to permit us to deal with you directly as a holder of shares and, by holding an ADS or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to comply with such instructions.
 
Books of Depositary
 
The depositary or its agent will maintain a register for the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADRs, which register shall include the depositary’s direct registration system. Registered holders of ADRs may inspect such records at the depositary’s office at all reasonable times, but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of the business of our company or a matter relating to the deposit agreement. Such register may be closed from time to time, when deemed expedient by the depositary.
 
The depositary will maintain facilities for the delivery and receipt of ADRs.
 
Pre-release of ADSs
 
In its capacity as depositary, the depositary shall not lend shares or ADSs; provided, however, that the depositary may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of shares and (ii) deliver shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which shares may not have been received (each such transaction a “pre-release”). The depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of shares under (i) above (which ADSs will promptly be canceled by the depositary upon receipt by the depositary) and receive shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such pre-release will be subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “applicant”) to whom ADSs or shares are to be delivered (a) represents that at the time of the pre-release the applicant or its customer owns the shares or ADSs that are to be delivered by the applicant under such pre-release, (b) agrees to indicate the depositary as owner of such shares or ADSs in its records and to hold such shares or ADSs in trust for the depositary until such shares or ADSs are delivered to the depositary or the custodian, (c) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the depositary or the custodian, as applicable, such shares or ADSs, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the depositary deems appropriate. Each such pre-release will be at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the depositary deems appropriate, terminable by the depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary deems appropriate. The depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and shares involved in such pre-release at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided, however, that the depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The
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depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and shares involved in pre-release with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the registered holders of ADRs (other than the applicant).
 
Appointment
 
In the deposit agreement, each registered holder of ADRs and each person holding an interest in ADSs, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement will be deemed for all purposes to:

 	•  	be a party to and bound by the terms of the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR or ADRs, and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	appoint the depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR or ADRs, to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable laws and to take such action as the depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR and ADRs, the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.	
 
Governing Law
 
The deposit agreement and the ADRs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. In the deposit agreement, we have submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and appointed an agent for service of process on our behalf.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
Upon completion of this offering, we will have outstanding 12,000,000 ADSs, representing approximately 16.1% of our common shares in issue. All of the ADSs sold in this offering will be freely transferable by persons other than our “affiliates” without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our ADSs. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common shares or the ADSs, and although we have applied to list the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange, we cannot assure you that a regular trading market will develop in the ADSs. We do not expect that a trading market will develop for our common shares not represented by the ADSs.
 
Lock-Up Agreements
 
We have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any ADSs or shares of common shares, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the representatives for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except issuances pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options outstanding on the date hereof or pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan.
 
Our officers, directors and existing shareholders have agreed that they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any ADSs or shares of common shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any ADSs or shares of common shares, enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our ADSs, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of our ADSs or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of the representatives for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. After the expiration of the 180-day period, the common shares or ADSs held by our directors, executive officers or existing shareholders may be sold subject to the restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or by means of registered public offerings.
 
The 180-day lock-up period is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. If in the event that either (1) during the last 17 days of the “lock-up” period, we release earnings results or material news or a material event relating to us occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the “lock-up” period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the “lock-up” period, then in either case the expiration of the “lock-up” will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as applicable, unless the representatives waive, in writing, such an extension.
 
The restrictions described in the preceding paragraphs will be automatically extended under certain circumstances. See “Underwriting.”
 
Other than this offering, we are not aware of any plans by any significant shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of our ADSs or common shares. However, one or more existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for our ADSs or common shares may dispose of significant numbers of our ADSs or common shares. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our ADSs or common shares, or the availability of ADSs or common shares for future sale, will have on the trading price of our ADSs from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs or common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.
 
Rule 144
 
All of our common shares outstanding prior to this offering are “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act and may be sold publicly in the United States only if they are
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subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement such as those provided by Rule 144 and Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act. In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who at the time of a sale is not, and has not been during the three months preceding the sale, an affiliate of us and has beneficially owned our restricted securities for at least six months will be entitled to sell the restricted securities without registration under the Securities Act, subject only to the availability of current public information about us, and will be entitled to sell restricted securities beneficially owned for at least one year without restriction. Persons who are our affiliates and have beneficially owned our restricted securities for at least six months may sell within any three-month period a number of restricted securities that does not exceed the greater of the following:

 	•  	1% of the number of our common shares then outstanding, in the form of ADSs or otherwise, which will equal approximately 1.49 million shares immediately after this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option; and	

 	•  	the average weekly trading volume of our ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange during the four calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the SEC.	
 
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also subject to certain requirements relating to manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information about us.
 
Rule 701
 
In general, under Rule 701 under the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases our common shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock plan or other written agreement executed prior to the completion of this offering is eligible to resell such common shares in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. However, the Rule 701 shares would remain subject to lock-up arrangements and would only become eligible for sale when the lock-up period expires.
 
Registration Rights
 
Upon completion of this offering, certain holders of our common shares or their transferees will be entitled to request that we register their shares under the Securities Act, following the expiration of the lock-up agreements described above. See “Description of Share Capital—Shareholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights.”
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TAXATION
 
The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, People’s Republic of China and United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or common shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this registration statement, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or common shares, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it is the opinion of Maples and Calder, our special Cayman Islands counsel; to the extent it relates to PRC tax law, it is the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our special PRC counsel; and to the extent that it sets forth specific legal conclusions under United States federal income tax law, except as otherwise provided, it represents the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, our special United States counsel.
 
Cayman Islands Taxation
 
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
 
People’s Republic of China Taxation
 
PRC EIT Law
 
Under the PRC EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, although the dividends paid to one resident enterprise from another may qualify as “tax-exempt income.” The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. A circular issued by the State Administration of Taxation on April 22, 2009 provides that a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group will be classified as a “resident enterprise” with its “de facto management body” located within China if the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the senior management and core management departments in charge of its daily operations function are mainly in the PRC; (ii) its financial and human resources decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, and minutes and files of its board and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) at least half of the enterprise’s directors with voting right or senior management reside in the PRC.
 
Based on the advice of our PRC counsel, Tian Yuan Law Firm, we do not believe that either TAL Group or Xueersi Hong Kong meets all of the conditions above. Each of TAL Group and Xueersi Hong Kong is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As holding companies, these two entities’ key assets and records, including resolutions of its board of directors and resolutions of its shareholders, are located and maintained outside of the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a similar corporate structure as ours ever having been deemed to be PRC “resident enterprises” by the PRC tax authorities. Therefore, based on our PRC counsel’s advice, we believe that neither TAL Group nor Xueersi Hong Kong should be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes. However, as the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities, there are uncertainties and risks associated with this issue. If the PRC tax authorities determine that TAL Group and Xueersi Hong Kong are “resident enterprises,” a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income. Second, although under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividend income between qualified resident enterprises is a “tax-exempt income,” we cannot guarantee that dividends paid to TAL Group from our PRC subsidiaries through Xueersi Hong
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Kong would qualify as “tax-exempt income” and will not be subject to withholding tax, as the PRC foreign exchange control authorities, which enforce the withholding tax, have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as “resident enterprises” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Finally, the new “resident enterprise” classification could result in a situation in which a 10% withholding tax is imposed on dividends we pay to our non-PRC enterprise shareholders and with respect to gains derived by our non-PRC enterprise shareholders from transferring our shares or ADSs, if such income is considered PRC-sourced income by the relevant PRC authorities. This could have the effect of increasing our and our shareholders’ effective income tax rates and may require us to deduct withholding tax from any dividends we pay to our non-PRC shareholders.
 
In addition to the uncertainty in how the new “resident enterprise” classification could apply, it is also possible that the rules may change in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. We are actively monitoring the possibility of “resident enterprise” treatment for the 2011 tax year and are evaluating appropriate organizational changes to avoid this treatment, to the extent possible.
 
Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfer by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises
 
Pursuant to the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 698, issued by the State Administration of Taxation on December 10, 2009, where a foreign investor transfers the equity interests of a PRC resident enterprise indirectly via disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, or an “Indirect Transfer,” and such overseas holding company is located in a tax jurisdiction that: (i) has an effective tax rate less than 12.5% or (ii) does not tax foreign income of its residents, the foreign investor shall report this Indirect Transfer to the competent tax authority. The PRC tax authority will examine the true nature of the Indirect Transfer, and if the tax authority considers that the foreign investor has adopted an “abusive arrangement” in order to avoid PRC tax, it may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company and re-characterize the Indirect Transfer and as a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. Circular 698 also provides that, where a non-PRC resident enterprise transfers its equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise to its related parties at a price lower than the fair market value, the competent tax authority has the power to make a reasonable adjustment to the taxable income of the transaction. Circular 698 is retroactively effective from January 1, 2008. The relevant PRC authority has not yet promulgated any formal provisions or formally declared or stated how to calculate the effective tax in a foreign jurisdiction and how a foreign investor shall report to the competent tax authority this Indirect Transfer. Since Circular 698 was newly promulgated, there are uncertainties as to its application. It is possible that we or our non-resident investors may become at risk of being taxed under Circular 698 and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 698 or to establish that we or our non-resident investors should not be taxed under Circular 698, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations or such non-resident investor’s investment in us.
 
Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
 
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ADSs or common shares by a U.S. Holder described below that will hold our ADSs or common shares as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “U.S. Tax Code”). This summary is based upon existing United States federal income tax law, which is subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not discuss all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual investment circumstances, including investors subject to special tax rules (for example, financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment, partnerships and their partners, pension plans, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, cooperatives, and tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations)), holders who are not U.S. Holders, holders who own (directly, indirectly, or constructively) 10% or more of our voting stock, investors that will hold their ADSs or common
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shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction for United States federal income tax purposes, U.S. expatriates, persons liable for alternative minimum tax, or investors that have a functional currency other than the United States dollar, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. In addition, this summary does not discuss any non-United States, state, or local, or estate or gift tax considerations. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state, local, and non-United States income and other tax considerations of an investment in our ADSs or common shares.
 
General
 
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or common shares that is, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise elected to be treated as a United States person under the U.S. Tax Code.
 
If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or common shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of a partnership holding our ADSs or common shares are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our ADSs or common shares.
 
Based in part on the parties complying with the deposit agreement, for United States federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder of ADSs will be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADSs. U.S. Holders should be aware, however, that the U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom ADSs are pre-released before shares are delivered to the depositary, or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between holders of ADSs and the issuer of the security underlying the ADSs, may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by holders of ADSs. These actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax, described below, applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate holders. Accordingly, the creditability of any PRC taxes, and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, each described below, could be affected by actions taken by such parties or intermediaries.
 
PFIC Considerations
 
A non-United States corporation, such as our company, will be classified as a PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) at least 50% of the value of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purposes, passive income means any income which would be foreign personal holding company income under the U.S. Tax Code, including, without limitation, dividends, interest, royalties, rent, annuities, net gains from the sale or exchange of property producing such income, net gains from commodity transactions, net foreign currency gains and income from notional principal contracts. For this purpose, cash is categorized as a passive asset and the company’s unbooked intangibles are taken into account for determining the value of its assets. We will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, more than 25% (by value) of the stock.
 
Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, not only because we control their management decisions but also because we are entitled to substantially all of the economic
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benefits associated with these entities, and, as a result, we consolidate these entities’ results of operations in our consolidated, U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries for United States federal income tax purposes, we would likely be treated as a PFIC for our taxable year ending on February 28, 2011 and any subsequent taxable year.
 
Accordingly, assuming that we are the owner of Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and their respective subsidiaries for United States federal income tax purposes, we believe that we primarily operate an active after-school tutoring business in China and do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year. Our expectation is based on assumptions as to our projections of the value of our ADSs and outstanding common shares during the year and our use of the proceeds from this offering the initial public offering of our ADSs and of the other cash that we will hold and generate in the ordinary course of our business throughout the current taxable year. Despite our expectation, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year and/or later taxable years, as PFIC status is retested each year and depends on the actual facts in such year. We could be a PFIC, for example, if we do not spend sufficient amounts of the proceeds from this offering, if our market capitalization at any time in the future is lower than projected, or if our business and assets evolve in ways that are different from what we currently anticipate. In addition, though we generally believe that our assets and the income derived from our assets do not generally constitute passive assets and income under the PFIC rules, there is no assurance that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will agree with us. As they are inherently factual matters that cannot be determined until the close of any applicable taxable year, our special U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our expectations contained in this paragraph.
 
Furthermore, because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service may successfully challenge our classification of certain income and assets as non-passive or our valuation of our tangible and intangible assets, each of which may result in our company becoming classified as a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years. Because PFIC status is a fact-intensive, we will make a separate determination for each taxable year as to whether we are a PFIC (after the close of each taxable year) on the basis of the composition of our assets and income and the value of our tangible and intangible assets. In connection with filing an annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we expect to disclose to our shareholders whether or not we or our subsidiaries were and expect to be a PFIC for the relevant year. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we are not or will not become classified as a PFIC. If we are classified as a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder held our ADSs or common shares, we generally would continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder held our ADSs or common shares.
 
The discussion below under “Dividends” and “Sale or Other Disposition of ADSs or Common Shares” assumes that we will not be classified as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply if we are classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year are generally discussed below under “PFIC Rules.”
 
Dividends
 
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, any cash distributions (including the amount of any PRC tax withheld) paid on our ADSs or common shares out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder, in the case of common shares, or by the Depositary, in the case of ADSs. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of United States federal income tax principles, any distribution paid will generally be treated as a “dividend” for United States federal income tax purposes. Subject to the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011, a non-corporate recipient of dividend income generally will be subject to tax on dividend income from a “qualified foreign corporation” at a reduced United States federal tax rate rather than the marginal tax rates generally applicable to ordinary income provided that certain holding period requirements are met—generally, 61 days of ownership without risk of loss reduction during the 121 day period beginning 60 days before the
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ex-dividend date. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in their particular circumstances. Dividends received on our ADSs or common shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations under the U.S. Tax Code.
 
A non-United States corporation (other than a corporation that is classified as a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year) generally will be considered to be a qualified foreign corporation (i) if it is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States which the Secretary of Treasury of the United States determines is satisfactory for purposes of this provision and which includes an exchange of information program, or (ii) with respect to any dividend it pays on stock (or ADSs in respect of such stock) which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. The U.S. Treasury Department has determined that the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (“Treaty”) meets the requirements described above. We have applied to list the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange. Provided the listing is approved, we believe that we will be a qualified foreign corporation for United States federal income tax purposes because the ADSs would be readily tradable on the New York Stock Exchange, which is an established securities market in the United States. In addition, in the event that we are deemed to be a resident enterprise under the EIT Law, as discussed above under “Taxation — People’s Republic of China Taxation,” we believe that we would qualify for the benefits under the Treaty and that we are not currently and are not likely to become in the near future, a PFIC. However, the eligibility requirements for foreign corporations are technical and uncertain and therefore, each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the impact of these provisions and the availability of the preferential rate in their particular circumstances.
 
Dividends generally will be treated as income from foreign sources for United States foreign tax credit purposes and generally will constitute passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, a U.S. Holder may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid, if any, on our ADSs or common shares. See “Taxation — People’s Republic of China Taxation.” Depending on the U.S. Holder’s individual facts and circumstances, the U.S. Holder may be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit in respect of any foreign withholding taxes imposed on dividends received on our ADSs or common shares. A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld is permitted instead to claim a deduction, for United States federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholdings, but only for a year in which such holder elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex and their outcome depends in large part on the taxpayer’s individual facts and circumstances. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
 
Sale or Other Disposition of ADSs or Common Shares
 
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of ADSs or common shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ADSs or common shares. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if the ADSs or common shares have been held for more than one year and will generally be United States source gain or loss for United States foreign tax credit purposes. In the event that we are deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law and gain from the disposition of the ADSs or common shares is subject to tax in the PRC, such gain may be treated as PRC source gain for foreign tax credit purposes under the Treaty. If such gain is not treated as PRC source gain, however, a U.S. Holder generally will not be able to obtain a United States foreign tax credit for any PRC tax withheld or imposed unless such U.S. Holder has other foreign source income in the appropriate category for the applicable tax year. Net long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders currently are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is imposed on a disposition of our ADSs or common shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
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PFIC Rules
 
If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or common shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules that have a penalizing effect, regardless of whether we remain a PFIC, on (i) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or common shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition, including, under certain circumstances, a pledge, of ADSs or common shares. Under the PFIC rules the:

 	•  	excess distribution and/or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or common shares;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC, or pre-PFIC year, will be taxable as ordinary income;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than the current taxable year or a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect applicable to the U.S. Holder for that year; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the tax attributable to each prior taxable year, other than the current taxable year or a pre-PFIC year.	
 
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or common shares and any of our non-United States subsidiaries is also a PFIC (i.e., a lower-tier PFIC), such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC and would be subject to the rules described above on certain distributions by a lower-tier PFIC and a disposition of shares of a lower-tier PFIC even though such U.S. Holder would not receive the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
 
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs, but not our common shares, provided that the ADSs are, as expected, listed on the New York Stock Exchange and that the ADSs are regularly traded. We anticipate that our ADSs should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard. If a U.S. Holder makes this election, the U.S. Holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of ADSs held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ADSs and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over the fair market value of such ADSs held at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of a corporation classified as a PFIC and such corporation ceases to be classified as a PFIC, the U.S. Holder will not be required to take into account the mark-to-market gain or loss described above during any period that such corporation is not classified as a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of our ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
 
Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes.
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We do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make qualified electing fund elections, which, if available, would result in tax treatment different from (and generally less adverse than) the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
 
If a U.S. Holder owns our ADSs or common shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, the holder must file such reports as are required by the U.S. Treasury. In the case of a U.S. Holder who has held ADSs or common shares during any taxable year in respect of which we were classified as a PFIC and continues to hold such ADSs or common shares (or any portion thereof) and has not previously determined to make a mark-to-market election, and who later considers making a mark-to-market election, special tax rules may apply relating to purging the PFIC taint of such ADSs or common shares. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor concerning the United States federal income tax consequences of purchasing, holding, and disposing ADSs or common shares if we are or become classified as a PFIC, including the possibility of making a mark-to-market election and the unavailability of the QEF election.
 
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
 
Pursuant to the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act enacted on March 18, 2010, in taxable years beginning after the date of enactment, an individual U.S. Holder and certain entities may be required to submit to the Internal Revenue Service certain information with respect to his or her beneficial ownership of the ADSs or common shares, if such ADSs or common shares are not held on his or her behalf by a U.S. financial institution. This new law also imposes penalties if an individual U.S. Holder is required to submit such information to the Internal Revenue Service and fails to do so.
 
In addition, dividend payments with respect to the ADSs or common shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of the ADSs or common shares may be subject to information reporting to the Internal Revenue Service and United States backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. We will make, or cause to be made, all withholdings to the extent required by applicable law. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the application of the United States information reporting and backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, and a U.S. Holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner and furnishing any required information.
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UNDERWRITING
 
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters named below, for whom Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc are acting as representatives, have severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to them, the number of ADSs indicated in the table below:

Underwriters	 	Number of ADSs	
 	 	 	 	 	
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC	 	 	     	 	
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc	 	 	 	 	
Piper Jaffray & Co. 	 	 	 	 	
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	 	12,000,000	 	
 
The underwriters are offering the ADSs subject to their acceptance of the ADSs from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the ADSs offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated, severally and not jointly, to take and pay for all of the ADSs offered by this prospectus if any such ADSs are taken. However, the underwriters are not required to take or pay for the ADSs covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated.
 
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the ADSs directly to the public at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part of the ADSs to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $      per ADS under the public offering price. After the initial offering of the ADSs, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the representatives of the underwriters.
 
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,800,000 additional ADSs at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the ADSs offered by this prospectus. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase additional ADSs approximately proportionate to each underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the table above.
 
If the underwriters’ option is exercised in full, the total price to the public of all the ADSs sold would be $           million, the total underwriting discounts and commissions would be $           million, the net proceeds to us would be $           million (after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us).
 
The following table shows the per ADS and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by us in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 	 	Per ADS	 	Total	
 	 	No
	 	Full
	 	No
	 	Full
	
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions To Be Paid by	 	Exercise	 	Exercise	 	Exercise	 	Exercise	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TAL Education Group	 	$     	 	 	 	$     	 	 	 	$     	 	 	 	$     	 	 	
 
The expenses of this offering payable by us, not including underwriting discounts and commissions, are estimated to be approximately $2.2 million.
 
The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales to discretionary accounts to exceed five percent of the total number of ADSs offered by them.
 
Some of the underwriters are expected to make offers and sales both inside and outside the United States through their respective selling agents. Any offers or sales in the United States will be conducted by broker-
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dealers registered with the SEC. We have been advised by the underwriters that Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC expects to make offers and sales outside the United States through its affiliate, Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited, and that Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc expects to make offers and sales in the United States through its registered broker-dealer affiliate in the United States, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
 
We have applied to list our ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “XRS.”
 
We have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters, we will not, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus:

 	•  	offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any common shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such common shares or ADSs or enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common shares or ADSs, whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of common shares or ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of any common shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such common shares or ADSs; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, pledge, sale or disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or file any such registration statement.	
 
The restrictions described in the preceding paragraph do not apply to:

 	•  	the sale of common shares or ADSs to the underwriters;	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the issuance of common shares or the grant of options to purchase common shares under our share incentive plan; and	
 	 	 	
 	•  	the issuance by us of common shares upon the exercise of an option or a warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of this prospectus of which the underwriters have been advised in writing or which is otherwise described in this prospectus.	
 
Each of our directors, executive officers and all of our existing shareholders have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters, he, she or it will not, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus:

 	•  	offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any common shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such common shares or ADSs or enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common shares or ADSs, whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of common shares or ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, pledge, sale or disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement.	
 
The restrictions described in the preceding paragraph do not apply to transactions relating to common shares, ADSs or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the closing of this offering. In addition, the restrictions do not apply to transfers of common shares or ADSs to immediate family members of such persons, or trusts for the sole benefit of or entities wholly owned by such persons or their immediate
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family members, so long as the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by such restrictions and such transfers do not involve a disposition for value.
 
In addition, each of our directors, executive officers and all of our existing shareholders have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters, he, she or it will not, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any common shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares or ADSs.
 
The 180-day restricted period described in the preceding paragraphs will be extended if:

 	•  	during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to our company occurs; or	
 	 	 	
 	•  	prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day period.	
 
In each of the above cases, the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.
 
In order to facilitate the offering of ADSs, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the ADSs. Specifically, the underwriters may sell more ADSs than they are obligated to purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short position in our ADSs for their own account. A short sale is “covered” if the short position is no greater than the number of ADSs available for purchase by the underwriters under the over-allotment option. The underwriters can close out a covered short sale by exercising the over-allotment option or purchasing ADSs in the open market. In determining the source of ADSs to close out a covered short sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the open market price of ADSs compared to the price available under the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also sell ADSs in excess of the over-allotment option, creating a naked short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing ADSs in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our ADSs in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means of facilitating the offering, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, our ADSs in the open market to stabilize the price of our ADSs. The underwriting syndicate may also reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the ADSs in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed ADSs to cover a syndicate short position or to stabilize the price of the ADSs. These activities may raise or maintain the market price of the ADSs above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
 
From time to time, certain of the underwriters may provide investment banking and other services to us, our affiliates and employees, for which they will receive customary fees and commissions.
 
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that an indemnified person may be required to make in respect of any of these liabilities.
 
At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to 5% of the total number of ADSs being offered in this prospectus (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option) for our directors, officers, employees, business associates and related persons. Any sale to these persons will be made by Piper Jaffray & Co. through a directed share program. We do not know if these persons will choose to purchase all or any portion of these reserved ADSs, but any purchases they make will reduce the number of ADSs available for sale to the general public. Any reserved ADSs which are not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same basis as the ADSs being offered in this prospectus.
 
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC’s address is Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629. Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc’s address is 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London
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E14 4QA, United Kingdom. Piper Jaffray & Co.’s address is 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.’s address is 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
 
Pricing of the Offering
 
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common shares or ADSs. The initial public offering price is determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price are the future prospects of our company and our industry in general, our sales, earnings and certain other financial and operating information in recent periods, and the price-earnings ratios, price-sales ratios, market prices of securities and certain financial and operating information of companies engaged in activities similar to those of our company. The estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the cover of this preliminary prospectus is subject to change as a result of market conditions and other factors.
 
Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of ADSs
 
In connection with this offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail. In addition, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc may be facilitating Internet distribution for this offering to certain of their Internet subscription customers. An electronic prospectus may be available on the Internet websites maintained by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the websites of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc is not part of this prospectus.
 
Selling Restrictions
 
The ADSs are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers.
 
No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the ADSs, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or the ADSs in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the ADSs may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the ADSs may be distributed or published, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof.
 
European Economic Area. In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, which we refer to as a Relevant Member State, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State, which we refer to as the Relevant Implementation Date, no offer of ADSs has been made and or will be made to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the ADSs which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, an offer of ADSs may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time: (a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; (b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or (c) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of ADSs to the public” in relation to any ADSs in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the ADSs to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the ADSs, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that
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Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/ EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
 
United Kingdom. No offer of ADSs has been made or will be made to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of Section 102B of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, or FSMA, except to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities or otherwise in circumstances which do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Rules of the Financial Services Authority, or FSA. The underwriters: (i) have only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of FSMA) to persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 or in circumstances in which Section 21 of FSMA does not apply to us; and (ii) have complied with, and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by them in relation to the ADSs in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
 
Japan. The ADSs have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan, and ADSs will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to any exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
 
Hong Kong. The ADSs may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the ADSs may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to ADSs which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
 
Singapore. This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our ADSs may not be circulated or distributed, nor may our ADSs be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or SFA, (ii) to a relevant person or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
 
Where our ADSs are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor; shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the ADSs under Section 275 of the SFA, except: (1) to an institutional investor (for
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corporations under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or (3) where the transfer is by operation of law.
 
People’s Republic of China. Each underwriter will be deemed to have represented and agreed that it has not circulated or distributed, and will not circulate or distribute, this prospectus in the PRC and it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, any ADSs to any resident of the PRC, except pursuant to applicable laws and regulations of the PRC. For the purpose of this paragraph, the PRC does not include Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
 
Cayman Islands. This prospectus does not constitute a public offer of the ADSs or common shares, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the Cayman Islands. Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any ADSs or common shares in the Cayman Islands.
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EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
 
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, that are expected to be incurred in connection with the offer and sale of the ADSs by us. Except for the SEC registration fee, the NYSE listing fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. filing fee, all amounts are estimates.

 	 	 	 	 	
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	 	$	9,839	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
NYSE listing fee	 	 	125,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. filing fee	 	 	14,300	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Printing and engraving expenses	 	 	250,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Accounting fees and expenses	 	 	400,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Legal fees and expenses	 	 	1,200,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Miscellaneous	 	 	180,000	 	

Total	 	$	2,179,139	 	

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LEGAL MATTERS
 
We are being represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The underwriters are being represented by Shearman & Sterling LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the common shares represented by the ADSs offered in this offering will be passed upon for us by Maples and Calder. Certain legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Tian Yuan Law Firm and for the underwriters by Haiwen & Partners. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may rely upon Maples and Calder with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and Tian Yuan Law Firm with respect to matters governed by PRC law. Shearman & Sterling LLP may rely upon Haiwen & Partners with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
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EXPERTS
 
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule as of February 28, 2009 and 2010, and for each of the three years ended February 28, 2010, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
The offices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd. are located at 8/F, Deloitte Tower, The Towers, Oriental Plaza, 1 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing 100738, the People’s Republic of China.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1, including relevant exhibits and securities under the Securities Act with respect to underlying common shares represented by the ADSs, to be sold in this offering. We have also filed with the SEC a related registration statement on F-6 to register the ADSs. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should read the registration statement on Form F-1 and its exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and our ADSs.
 
Immediately upon completion of this offering we will become subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. For the fiscal year ending February 28, 2011, our annual report on Form 20-F will be due within six months following the end of that year. For the fiscal years ending on or after December 15, 2011, we will be required to file our annual report on Form 20-F within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov  or inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC website for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms.
 
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we intend to furnish the depositary with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meeting and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our written request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.
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TAL Education Group

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Contents	 	  Page(s)  	

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	 	 	F-2	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010	 	 	F-3	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010	 	 	F-4	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010	 	 	F-5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010	 	 	F-6–F-7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	 	F-8–F-36	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Schedule I	 	 	F-37–F-40	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 31, 2010	 	 	F-41	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010	 	 	F-42	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010	 	 	F-43	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010	 	 	F-44	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010	 	 	F-45-F-58	 	

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of TAL Education Group
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of TAL Education Group (the “Company”), its subsidiaries, its variable interest entities (the “VIEs”) and the VIEs’ subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”) as of February 28, 2009 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, and the related financial statement schedule included in Schedule I. These financial statements and the related financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Group is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits include consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group as of February 28, 2009 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to such consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
/s/  Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd.
 
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
July 1, 2010, except for Note 24, as to which the date is September 29, 2010
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TAL Education Group

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	29,692,901	 	 	$	50,752,481	 	 	 	 	 	
Available-for-sale securities	 	 	340,418	 	 	 	1,918,156	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due from related parties	 	 	92,112	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	 	 	
Inventory	 	 	1,063	 	 	 	121,819	 	 	 	 	 	
Deferred tax assets-current	 	 	481,129	 	 	 	831,297	 	 	 	 	 	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	 	 	1,414,923	 	 	 	2,280,941	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	 	32,022,546	 	 	 	55,904,694	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment, net	 	 	2,471,337	 	 	 	4,991,490	 	 	 	 	 	
Deferred tax assets-non-current	 	 	131,289	 	 	 	283,968	 	 	 	 	 	
Rental deposit	 	 	939,207	 	 	 	2,170,548	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets, net	 	 	2,226,343	 	 	 	1,389,160	 	 	 	 	 	
Goodwill	 	 	762,272	 	 	 	763,802	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	38,552,994	 	 	$	65,503,662	 	 	 	 	 	

Liabilities, Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares and Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of nil and 915,408 as of February 28, 2009, and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	$	— 	 	 	$	987,742	 	 	 	 	 	
Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 18,022,550 and 24,631,648 as of February 28, 2009, and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	18,022,550	 	 	 	29,407,994	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 101,043 and 108,204 as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	101,043	 	 	 	108,204	 	 	 	 	 	
Distribution payable to shareholders (including distribution payable to shareholders of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 1,462,095 and nil as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	1,462,095	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities without recourse to TAL Education Group of 3,601,117 and 6,588,552 as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	3,609,797	 	 	 	6,817,816	 	 	 	 	 	
Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 2,636,095 and 2,653,324 as of February 28, 2009, and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	2,636,095	 	 	 	580,225	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	25,831,580	 	 	 	37,901,981	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Convertible loan	 	 	— 	 	 	 	500,000	 	 	 	 	 	
Deferred tax liabilities-non-current	 	 	203,776	 	 	 	175,610	 	 	 	 	 	
Acquisition payable-non-current (including acquisition payable -non-current of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 162,293 and nil as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	162,293	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities	 	 	26,197,649	 	 	 	38,577,591	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares ($0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares and 5,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively, liquidation value $5,000,000)	 	 	9,000,000	 	 	 	9,000,000	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TAL Education Group Shareholders’ Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common shares ($0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	 	 	
Class B common shares ($0.001 par value, 495,000,000 shares authorized as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010; 120,000,000 shares and 120,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	 	 	
Class B common shares subscription receivable	 	 	(120,000	)	 	 	(120,000	)	 	 	 	 	
Additional paid-in capital	 	 	559,898	 	 	 	779,641	 	 	 	 	 	
Statutory reserve	 	 	2,660,818	 	 	 	4,857,443	 	 	 	 	 	
Retained earnings	 	 	21,400	 	 	 	12,069,734	 	 	 	 	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive income	 	 	113,229	 	 	 	219,253	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total TAL Education Group’s Equity	 	 	3,355,345	 	 	 	17,926,071	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities, convertible redeemable preferred shares and equity	 	$	38,552,994	 	 	$	65,503,662	 	 	 	 	 	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3

Table of Contents
TAL Education Group

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	For the year
	 	 	For the year
	 	 	For the year
	 	
 	 	ended
	 	 	ended
	 	 	ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	8,882,191	 	 	$	37,475,583	 	 	$	69,593,523	 	
Cost of revenues	 	 	(4,367,086	)	 	 	(18,554,255	)	 	 	(37,648,875	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	 	 	4,515,105	 	 	 	18,921,328	 	 	 	31,944,648	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing	 	 	(370,185	)	 	 	(2,353,011	)	 	 	(5,608,116	)	
General and administrative	 	 	(2,478,092	)	 	 	(5,889,370	)	 	 	(10,871,866	)	
Impairment loss on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,615,455	)	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	(2,848,277	)	 	 	(9,857,836	)	 	 	(16,479,982	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from operations	 	 	1,666,828	 	 	 	9,063,492	 	 	 	15,464,666	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	 	10,485	 	 	 	119,922	 	 	 	323,861	 	
Interest expense	 	 	—	 	 	 	(42,967	)	 	 	(40,643	)	
Other expenses	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(209,949	)	 	 	(124,400	)	
Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(362,668	)	 	 	— 	 	
Gain on extinguishment of liabilities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	731,092	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income tax provision	 	 	1,677,313	 	 	 	9,298,922	 	 	 	15,623,484	 	
Provision for income tax	 	 	(164,741	)	 	 	(2,018,253	)	 	 	(1,378,525	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Deemed dividends on Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares—accretion of redemption premium	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113,035	)	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to common shareholders of TAL Education Group	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	3,167,634	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-Basic	 	$	— 	 	 	$	17.69	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	
Diluted	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	125,000,000	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-basic	 	 	— 	 	 	 	232,877	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	
Pro forma net income per common share (unaudited) (Note 23)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating pro forma net income per common share (unaudited) (Note 23)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	123,501,120	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	128,501,120	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4

Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Total TAL
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Class B common
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Accumulated
	 	 	Education
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	shares
	 	 	Additional
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	other
	 	 	Group
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Class B common shares	 	 	subscription
	 	 	paid-in
	 	 	Statutory
	 	 	(Accumulated deficit)/
	 	 	comprehensive
	 	 	shareholders’
	 	 	Comprehensive
	 	
 	 	Shares	 	 	Amount	 	 	receivable	 	 	capital	 	 	reserve	 	 	retained earnings	 	 	income (loss)	 	 	equity	 	 	income	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of March 1, 2007	 	 	1,000	 	 	$	1	 	 	$	(1	)	 	$	62,580	 	 	$	— 	 	 	$	(555,968	)	 	$	— 	 	 	$	(493,388	)	 	$	— 	 	
Capital contribution	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	131,810	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	131,810	 	 	 	— 	 	
Net income	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	1,512,572	 	
Provision for statutory reserve	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	494,040	 	 	 	(494,040	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	42,102	 	 	 	42,102	 	 	 	42,102	 	
Net unrealized (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $24,296	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(49,327	)	 	 	(49,327	)	 	 	(49,327	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 29, 2008	 	 	1,000	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	(1	)	 	 	194,390	 	 	 	494,040	 	 	 	462,564	 	 	 	(7,225	)	 	 	1,143,769	 	 	$	1,505,347	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Capital contribution	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	365,508	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	365,508	 	 	 	— 	 	
Net income	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	
Issuance of Class B common shares	 	 	119,999,000	 	 	 	119,999	 	 	 	(119,999	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Provision for statutory reserve	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	2,166,778	 	 	 	(2,166,778	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Distribution to shareholders	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,442,020	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,442,020	)	 	 	— 	 	
Accretion for Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares redemption premium	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113,035	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113,035	)	 	 	— 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	71,127	 	 	 	71,127	 	 	 	71,127	 	
Net unrealized (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $72,261	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(216,784	)	 	 	(216,784	)	 	 	(216,784	)	
Transfer to the statements of operations of other-than-temporary impairment, net of tax effect of ($96,557)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	266,111	 	 	 	266,111	 	 	 	266,111	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2009	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	(120,000	)	 	 	559,898	 	 	 	2,660,818	 	 	 	21,400	 	 	 	113,229	 	 	 	3,355,345	 	 	$	7,401,123	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Capital contribution	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	219,743	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	219,743	 	 	 	— 	 	
Net income	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
Provision for statutory reserve	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	2,196,625	 	 	 	(2,196,625	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	21,493	 	 	 	21,493	 	 	 	21,493	 	
Net unrealized gains on available- for-sale securities, net of tax effect of ($28,177)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	84,531	 	 	 	84,531	 	 	 	84,531	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2010	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	$	120,000	 	 	$	(120,000	)	 	$	779,641	 	 	$	4,857,443	 	 	$	12,069,734	 	 	$	219,253	 	 	$	17,926,071	 	 	$	14,350,983	 	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5

Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	For the year
	 	 	For the year
	 	 	For the year
	 	
 	 	ended
	 	 	ended
	 	 	ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from operating activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	1,512,572	 	 	$	7,280,669	 	 	$	14,244,959	 	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation of property and equipment	 	 	46,416	 	 	 	452,009	 	 	 	1,272,074	 	
Amortization of intangible assets	 	 	114,536	 	 	 	565,300	 	 	 	841,193	 	
Impairment loss on intangible assets and goodwill	 	 	— 	 	 	 	1,615,455	 	 	 	— 	 	
Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	362,668	 	 	 	— 	 	
Gain on extinguishment of liabilities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(731,092	)	 	 	— 	 	
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due from related parties	 	 	(41,914	)	 	 	(91,458	)	 	 	92,247	 	
Inventory	 	 	(4,270	)	 	 	3,603	 	 	 	(120,688	)	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	 	 	425,014	 	 	 	(802,788	)	 	 	(862,708	)	
Deferred income taxes	 	 	(139,879	)	 	 	(602,485	)	 	 	(557,895	)	
Rental deposit	 	 	(235,756	)	 	 	(635,096	)	 	 	(1,228,785	)	
Accounts payable	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	987,204	 	
Deferred revenue	 	 	3,701,239	 	 	 	11,995,607	 	 	 	11,343,086	 	
Amounts due to related parties	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(36,135	)	 	 	6,954	 	
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	 	 	644,389	 	 	 	1,805,910	 	 	 	3,217,670	 	
Income tax payable	 	 	302,689	 	 	 	2,285,218	 	 	 	(2,060,038	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	 	6,325,036	 	 	 	23,467,385	 	 	 	27,175,273	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from investing activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purchase of property and equipment	 	 	(532,814	)	 	 	(2,142,362	)	 	 	(3,785,897	)	
Purchase of intangible assets	 	 	(277,022	)	 	 	(1,422,679	)	 	 	— 	 	
Purchase of available-for-sale securities	 	 	(660,519	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,464,231	)	
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired of $186,336	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,551,362	)	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used in investing activities	 	 	(1,470,355	)	 	 	(5,116,403	)	 	 	(5,250,128	)	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6

Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	For the year
	 	 	For the year
	 	 	For the year
	 	
 	 	ended
	 	 	ended
	 	 	ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from financing activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Proceeds from issuance of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance cost of $113,035	 	 	— 	 	 	 	4,886,965	 	 	 	— 	 	
Capital contributed from shareholders	 	 	131,810	 	 	 	365,508	 	 	 	219,743	 	
Payment of deferred consideration	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(180,345	)	
Distribution to shareholders	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,442,020	)	
Convertible loan	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	500,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	 	 	131,810	 	 	 	5,252,473	 	 	 	(902,622	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Effect of exchange rate changes	 	 	315,097	 	 	 	384,961	 	 	 	37,057	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	 	 	5,301,588	 	 	 	23,988,416	 	 	 	21,059,580	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year	 	 	402,897	 	 	 	5,704,485	 	 	 	29,692,901	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year	 	 	5,704,485	 	 	 	29,692,901	 	 	 	50,752,481	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Supplement disclosure of cash flow information:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income tax paid	 	$	1,931	 	 	$	335,439	 	 	$	3,997,584	 	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7

Table of Contents
TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

1. 	Organization and Principal Activities	
 
TAL Education Group (the “Company” or “TAL”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on January 10, 2008 to be the holding company for a group of companies engaged in provision of high quality after-school tutoring programs for primary and secondary school students in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”). At the time of its incorporation and through the date of the reorganization as described below, the ownership interest of the Company was held by Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai (collectively , “the founding shareholders”).
 
The Company, its subsidiaries, its consolidated Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) and VIEs’ subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Group”.
 
As of February 28, 2010, details of the Group’s subsidiaries, its VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries are as follows:
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Place of
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Later of date of
	 	incorporation
	 	Percentage of
	 	 	
 	 	incorporation
	 	(or establishment)
	 	economic
	 	 	
Name	 	or acquisition	 	/operation	 	ownership	 	Principal activities	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Subsidiaries:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Xueersi International Education Group Limited
(“Xueersi Hong Kong”)	 	March 11, 2008	 	Hong Kong	 	 	100	%	 	Holding company	
TAL Education Technology (Beijing)
Co., Ltd. (“TAL Beijing”)	 	May 8, 2008	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	Software sales,
and consulting service	
Beijing Huanqiu Zhikang Shidai Education
Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Huanqiu Zhikang”)	 	September 17, 2009	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	Education and management
consulting service	
Beijing Yidu Huida Education Technology
Co., Ltd. (“Yidu Huida”)	 	November 11, 2009	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	Software sales and
consulting service	
Variable interest entities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Beijing Xueersi Education Technology
Co., Ltd. (“Xueersi Education”)	 	December 31, 2005	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	Sales of educational
materials and products	
Beijing Xueersi Network Technology
Co., Ltd. (“Xueersi Network”)	 	August 23, 2007	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	On-line education	
VIEs’ subsidiaries:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Beijing Haidian District Xueersi Training
School (“Haidian Xueersi”)	 	July 3, 2006	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	After-school tutoring for primary
and secondary school students	
Beijing Dongcheng District Xueersi
Training School (“Dongcheng Xueersi”)	 	March 21, 2008	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	After-school tutoring for primary
and secondary school students	
Beijing Zhikang Culture Distribution
Co., Ltd. (“Zhikang”)	 	June 30, 2008	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	After- school tutoring for primary
and secondary school students	
Hubei Jianli Hafu
English Training School (“Jianli School”)	 	July 1, 2008	 	Hubei	 	 	100	%	 	Language education	
Hubei Qianjiang Xiaohafu
English Training School (“Qianjiang School”)	 	July 1, 2008	 	Hubei	 	 	100	%	 	Language education	
Wuhan Jianghanqu Xiaoxinxing
English Training School (“Wuhan School”)	 	July 1, 2008	 	Hubei	 	 	100	%	 	Language education	
Shanghai Lehai Science and Technology
Information Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Lehai”)	 	August 1, 2008	 	Shanghai	 	 	100	%	 	Technology development
and consulting service	
Shanghai Changning District Xueersi-Lejiale
School (“Changning School”)	 	August 1, 2008	 	Shanghai	 	 	100	%	 	After-school tutoring for primary
and secondary school students	
Shanghai Minhang District Lejiale
School (“Minhang School”)	 	August 1, 2008	 	Shanghai	 	 	100	%	 	Language education	
Beijing Xicheng District Xueersi
Training School (“Xicheng Xueersi”)	 	April 2, 2009	 	Beijing	 	 	100	%	 	After-school tutoring for primary
and secondary school students	

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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	 	 	Place of
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Later of date of
	 	incorporation
	 	Percentage of
	 	 	
 	 	incorporation
	 	(or establishment)
	 	economic
	 	 	
Name	 	or acquisition	 	/operation	 	ownership	 	Principal activities	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shanghai Xueersi Education Information
Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Education”)	 	July 2, 2009	 	Shanghai	 	 	100	%	 	Educational information consulting
and educational software development	
Tianjin Xueersi Education Information
Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Tianjin Education”)	 	August 14, 2009	 	Tianjin	 	 	100	%	 	Educational information
consulting service	
Guangzhou Xueersi Education Technology
Co., Ltd. (“Guangzhou Education”)	 	August 16, 2009	 	Guangzhou	 	 	100	%	 	Educational technology
research and development	
Shenzhen Xueersi Education Technology
Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen Education”)	 	December 22, 2009	 	Shenzhen	 	 	100	%	 	Teaching software research
and development	
 
History of the Group
 
The Group began its operations in the PRC in 2003 through Beijing Aosai Culture Distribution Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Aosai”). Beijing Aosai was incorporated by the founding shareholders in August 2003 and liquidated in January 2008 after its business was transferred to Xueersi Education.
 
Xueersi Education was incorporated in the PRC in 2005 by the founding shareholders with the same ownership percentage as the Company. Xueersi Education was established to provide high quality after-school tutoring and other related services to primary and secondary school students, including mathematics and English.
 
Haidian Xueersi, Xueersi Network and Zhikang were established by the founding shareholders in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. In November 2008, Xueersi Network acquired Haidian Xueersi and Zhikang.
 
The reorganization
 
PRC laws and regulations currently require any foreign entity that invests in the education business in China to be an educational institution with relevant experience in providing education services outside China. As a Cayman Islands company, the Company is deemed a foreign legal person under the PRC laws.
 
To comply with the PRC laws and regulations, the Group provides substantially all of its services in the PRC through its VIEs, Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network, and their subsidiaries. To provide the Company the ability to receive the majority of the expected residual returns of the VIEs and their subsidiaries, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, TAL Beijing entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network on February 12, 2009.

 	•  	Agreements that transfer economic benefits to TAL Beijing	
 
Series of technology support and service agreements: Pursuant to a series of technology support and service agreements, TAL Beijing retains exclusive right to provide to the VIEs the technology support and consulting services included but not limited to the system technology support service, website development service, human resource and information management service, exclusive management consulting service, and curriculum research and development service. TAL Beijing owns the intellectual property rights developed in the performance of these agreements. As consideration for these services, TAL Beijing is entitled to charge the VIEs annual service fees and adjust the service fee rates from time to time at its discretion.
 
Call option agreement: Pursuant to the call option agreement, the shareholders of VIEs unconditionally and irrevocably granted TAL Beijing or its designated third party an exclusive option to purchase from VIEs’ shareholders, to the extent permitted under PRC law, part of or all the equity interests in the VIEs, as the case
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
may be, for the minimum amount of consideration permitted by the applicable law without any other conditions. TAL Beijing has sole discretion to decide when to exercise the option, whether in part or in full.

 	•  	Agreements that provide TAL Beijing effective control over the VIEs	
 
Power of attorney: The shareholders of the VIEs have executed an irrevocable power of attorney appointing TAL Beijing, or any person designated by TAL Beijing as their attorney-in-fact to vote on their behalf on all matters of the VIEs requiring shareholder approval under PRC laws and regulations and the articles of association of the VIEs. The power of attorney remains effective during the periods of their shareholding.
 
The articles of associations of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network state that the major rights of the shareholders in shareholders’ meeting include the power to approve the operating strategy and investment plan, elect the members of board of directors and approve their compensation and review and approve annual budget and earning distribution plan. Therefore, through the irrevocable power of attorney arrangement TAL Beijing has the ability to exercise effective control over Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network through shareholder votes and through such votes to also control the composition of the board of directors. In addition, the senior management team of Xueersi Education and Xueersi Network is the same as that of TAL Beijing. As a result of these contractual rights, the Company has the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact their economic performance.
 
Equity pledge agreement: Pursuant to the equity pledge agreement, the shareholders of the VIEs unconditionally and irrevocably pledged all of their equity interests, including the right to receive declared dividends and the voting rights, in the VIEs to TAL Beijing to guarantee VIEs’ performance of their obligations under the technology support and service agreements. The shareholders of the VIEs agree that, without prior written consent of TAL Beijing, they will not transfer or dispose the pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests that would prejudice TAL Beijing’s interest.
 
Through the above contractual arrangements, TAL Beijing has the rights to receive substantially all of the VIEs’ expected residual returns and holds variable interests in the VIEs.
 
Since the Company and the VIEs prior to entering into the above contractual arrangements were under the common control, the conclusion of the contractual arrangements is a reorganization of entities under common control and has been accounted for in a manner akin to a pooling as if the Company had been in existence throughout the period of the VIEs’ existence and it was the primary beneficiary of the VIEs from their inception.
 
The following financial statement balances and amounts of the Company’s VIEs were included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	$	27,027,498	 	 	$	45,171,584	 	
Total non-current assets	 	 	6,452,080	 	 	 	8,792,445	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	 	33,479,578	 	 	 	53,964,029	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	25,822,900	 	 	 	34,897,136	 	
Total non-current liabilities	 	 	366,069	 	 	 	175,610	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities	 	$	26,188,969	 	 	$	35,072,746	 	

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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	For the year ended
	 	For the year ended
	 	For the year ended
	
 	 	February 29,
	 	February 28,
	 	February 28,
	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	8,882,191	 	 	$	37,475,583	 	 	$	68,884,665	 	
Net income	 	$	1,512,572	 	 	$	7,312,960	 	 	$	14,260,357	 	

 	 	For the year ended
	 	For the year ended
	 	For the year ended
	
 	 	February 29,
	 	February 28,
	 	February 28,
	
 	 	2008	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	$	6,325,036	 	 	$	24,956,771	 	 	$	21,611,823	 	
Net cash used in investing activities	 	$	(1,470,355	)	 	$	(5,066,464	)	 	$	(5,250,128	)	
Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities	 	$	131,810	 	 	$	365,508	 	 	$	(1,402,622	)	
 
There are no consolidated VIE assets that are collateral for the VIE’s obligations and can only be used to settle the VIE’s obligations.

2. 	Significant Accounting Policies	
 
Basis of presentation
 
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).
 
Basis of consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries and its VIEs and their subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
 
Use of estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements include valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, the useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, impairment of available-for-sale securities, intangible assets, long-lived assets and goodwill.
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, 7-days-notice bank deposits and principal-secured floating rate financial instruments which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have original maturities of three months or less when purchased.
 
Available-for-sale securities
 
Available-for-sale securities are carried at their fair value. Unrealized gains and losses excluded from the changes in fair value are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
The Group reviews its available-for-sale securities for other-than-temporary impairment in accordance with authoritative guidance based on the specific identification method. The Group considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating the potential impairment of its available-for-sale securities. If the cost of an investment exceeds the investment’s fair value, the Group considers, among other factors, general market conditions, expected future performance of the investees, the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the investment is less than the cost, and the Group’s intent and ability to hold the investment. Other-than-temporary impairments below costs are recognized as a loss in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Property and equipment, net
 
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:

Computer, network equipment and software	 	3 years	
Vehicles	 	4-5 years	
Office equipment and furniture	 	3-5 years	
Leasehold improvement	 	Shorter of the lease term or estimated useful lives	
 
Acquired intangible assets, net
 
Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill consist of domain names, partnership agreement, trade name, student base, non-compete agreement, and educational license, and are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization and impairment. Amortization of acquired intangible assets, except student base, is calculated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the contractual terms or the expected useful lives of the acquired assets. Student base is amortized using the estimated attrition pattern and graduation rates of the acquired schools. The amortization periods by major intangible asset classes are as follows:

Trade name	 	10.0 years	
Student base	 	3.5 years	
Partnership agreement	 	2.6-3.5 years	
Domain names	 	3.0 years	
Non-compete agreement	 	2.0-3.0 years	
Educational license	 	0.9-2.0 years	
 
Impairment of long-lived assets
 
The Group reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group measures impairment by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group would recognize an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets.
 
Impairment of goodwill
 
Goodwill is not amortized but tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances. Goodwill impairment is tested using a two-step approach. The first step compares the
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered impaired and the second step is not required. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the second step of the impairment test measures the amount of the impairment loss, if any, by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess. The implied fair value of goodwill is calculated in the same manner that goodwill is calculated in a business combination, whereby the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, with the excess purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities representing the implied fair value of goodwill. The Group determines each individual school as a reporting unit and performs its annual goodwill impairment test on the last day of each fiscal year.
 
Revenue recognition
 
Revenue is recognized when earned and is reported net of business tax.
 
The primary sources of the Group’s revenues are as follows:
 
(a) Educational programs and services
 
The educational programs and services primarily consist of after-school group tutoring and after-school one-on-one tutoring. Tuition revenue is generally collected in advance and is initially recorded as deferred revenue. Tuition revenue is recognized proportionately as the tutoring sessions are delivered.
 
For small-class courses consisting of more than seven classes per course, the Group offers refunds for any remaining classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course, provided the course is less than two-thirds completed at the time of withdrawal. After two-thirds of a course is delivered, no refund is allowed. For small-class courses with less than seven classes, no refund will be provided after the commencement of the courses. For personalized premium services, a student can withdraw at any time and receive a refund for the undelivered classes. The refund is recorded as a reduction of deferred revenue and has no impact on the recognized revenue. The Group has not experienced significant refunds in the past.
 
The Group sends out coupons to attract both existing and prospective students to enroll in its courses. The coupon has fixed dollar amounts and can only be used against future courses. The coupon is accounted for as a reduction of revenue when the relevant revenue is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
(b) Educational materials and others
 
The Group sells educational materials to students at the Group’s training centers. Revenue is recognized after a service contract is signed, the price is fixed or determinable, educational materials are delivered and collection of the receivables is reasonably assured.
 
Value added tax
 
TAL Beijing is subject to value added tax, VAT, for the inter-company sales of self-developed software in accordance with the PRC tax laws. For small scale VAT payer, the VAT rate is 3% of the gross sales and for general VAT payer, the VAT rate is 17% of the gross sales. TAL Beijing is deemed as general VAT payer since October 2009. As the entity sells self-developed software, it is eligible for VAT refund at the rate of 14% from the calendar year 2010.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
For the calendar year 2009, TAL Beijing filed its VAT return at the rate of 3%. For the calendar year 2010, it files its VAT return at a rate of 17% and enjoys a 14% VAT refund.
 
Operating leases
 
Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of the ownership of the assets remain with the leasing companies are accounted for as operating leases. Payments made for the operating leases are charged to the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term and have been included in the operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Advertising costs
 
The Group expenses advertising costs as incurred. Total advertising costs incurred were $58,520, $119,081, and $487,333 for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and have been included in selling and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Foreign currency translation
 
The functional and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries in the PRC is Renminbi (“RMB”).
 
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies are translated into the functional currencies at the prevailing rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into the applicable functional currencies at historical exchange rates. Transactions in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies during the year are converted into the functional currencies at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
For translating the results of the PRC subsidiaries into the functional currency of the Company, assets and liabilities are translated from each subsidiary’s functional currency to the reporting currency at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Equity amounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the period. Translation adjustments are reported as cumulative translation adjustments and are shown as a separate component of other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of changes in equity and comprehensive income.
 
Income taxes
 
Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, net of operating loss carry forwards and credits, by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to the Group as enacted by the relevant tax authorities. The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on the characteristics of the underlying assets and liabilities.
 
The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authorities. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
Comprehensive income
 
Comprehensive income includes net income, unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, and foreign currency translation adjustments. Comprehensive income is reported in the consolidated statements of changes in equity and comprehensive income.
 
Concentration of credit risk
 
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. As of February 28, 2010, substantially all of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents were managed by financial institutions with high-credit ratings and quality.
 
Fair value of financial instruments
 
The Group’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities, amounts due from related parties, accounts payables, amounts due to related parties and convertible loan. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, amounts due from related parties, accounts payables, and amounts due to related parties approximate their carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. All highly liquid debt instruments purchased with original maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition are included in cash and cash equivalents, which are reported at fair value.
 
Net income per share
 
Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated on a pro rata basis to each class of common shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights.
 
The holders of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares are entitled to share dividends on a pro rata basis, as if their shares had been converted into Class B common shares. Accordingly, the Company has used the two-class method in computing net income per share.
 
Fair value
 
Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.
 
Authoritative literature provides a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement as follows:
 
Level 1
 
Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
Level 2
 
Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.
 
Level 3
 
Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
 
Beneficial conversion feature
 
For convertible instruments, a beneficial conversion feature is recognized when the conversion price is less than the fair value of the common stock into which the instrument is converted. For convertible instruments that have a stated redemption date (such as debt and mandatorily redeemable preferred stock), the discount resulting from recording a beneficial conversion option is accreted from the date of issuance to the stated redemption date of the convertible instrument, regardless of when the earliest conversion date occurs.
 
In circumstances in which the instrument is converted prior to amortization of the full amount of the discount, the remaining unamortized discount at the date of conversion is immediately recognized as interest expense or as a dividend, as appropriate.
 
Recently issued accounting standards
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement to amend the accounting rules for variable interest entities (VIEs). The amendments effectively replace the quantitative-based risks-and-rewards calculation for determining which reporting entity, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach focused on identifying which reporting entity has (1) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity. Additionally, an enterprise is required to assess whether it has an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that a variable interest entity operates as designed when determining whether it has the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about a reporting entity’s involvement with variable interest entities and about any significant changes in risk exposure as a result of that involvement.
 
The new guidance is effective at the start of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009, and all interim and annual periods thereafter. The new VIE model requires that, upon adoption, a reporting entity should determine whether an entity is a VIE, and whether the reporting entity is the VIE’s primary beneficiary, as of the date that the reporting entity first became involved with the entity, unless an event requiring reconsideration of those initial conclusions occurred after that date. When making this determination, a reporting entity must assume that new guidance had been effective from the date of its first involvement with the entity. The Group adopted the new guidance on March 1, 2010.
 
The Company has had two VIEs, which it has consolidated under the authoritative literature prior to the amendment discussed above because it was the primary beneficiary of those entities. Because the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, has (1) the power to direct the activities of the two VIEs that most
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the right to receive benefits from the two VIES, it will continue to consolidate the two VIEs upon the adoption of the new guidance which therefore, other than for additional disclosures including those for prior periods, had no accounting impact.
 
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. This pronouncement was issued in response to practice concerns related to the accounting for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables under an existing pronouncement. Although the new pronouncement retains the criteria from an existing pronouncement for when delivered items in a multiple-deliverable arrangement should be considered separate units of accounting, it removes the previous separation criterion under existing pronouncements that objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of any undelivered items must exist for the delivered items to be considered a separate unit or separate units of accounting. The new pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement (1) prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or (2) retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted; however, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also do the following in the period of adoption: (1) retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year; and (2) disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding software revenue recognition. This new pronouncement amends an existing pronouncement to exclude from its scope all tangible products containing both software and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality. That is, the entire product (including the software deliverables and non-software deliverables) would be outside the scope of software revenue recognition and would be accounted for under other accounting literature. The new pronouncement includes factors that entities should consider when determining whether the software and non-software components function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality and are thus outside the revised scope of the authoritative literature that governs software revenue recognition. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement (1) prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or (2) retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted; however, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also do the following in the period of adoption: (1) retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year; and (2) disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In April 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on milestone method of revenue recognition. The scope of this pronouncement is limited to arrangements that include milestones relating to research or development deliverables. The pronouncement specifies guidance that must be met for a vendor to recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a substantive milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. The guidance applies to milestones in arrangements within the scope of this consensus regardless of whether the arrangement is determined to have single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The pronouncement will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early application is permitted. Companies can apply this guidance prospectively to milestones achieved after adoption. However, retrospective application to all
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
prior periods is also permitted. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In April 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on effect of denominating the exercise price of a share-based payment award in the currency of the market in which the underlying equity securities trades and that currency is different from (1) entity’s functional currency, (2) functional currency of the foreign operation for which the employee provides services, and (3) payroll currency of the employee. The guidance clarifies that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should be considered an equity award assuming all other criteria for equity classification are met. The pronouncement will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and will be applied prospectively. Affected entities will be required to record a cumulative catch-up adjustment for all awards outstanding as of the beginning of the annual period in which the guidance is adopted. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.

3. 	Acquisitions	
 
In the year ended February 28, 2009, the Group made five business acquisitions. Each acquisition has been recorded using the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, the acquired assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair value at the date of purchase. The results of these acquired entities’ operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of purchase.
 
Acquisition in Wuhan
 
On July 1, 2008, Xueersi Network acquired 100% equity interest in Wuhan School. Pursuant to the original acquisition agreement, $918,260 would be paid by cash (of which $712,745 was paid by February 28, 2010), while $393,540 would be settled by cash or the Class B common shares of the Company on the closing of a qualified IPO at the discretion of the target, provided such qualified IPO occurred within two years. Absent an IPO in the specified period, $393,540 would be increased to $787,080 and be settled in cash.
 
Since the completion of a qualified IPO is beyond the Company’s control, the Company accounted for $787,080 as a liability incurred upon the acquisition.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
The purchase price of Wuhan School was allocated as follows:

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Amortization
	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	period	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	 	 	 	 	$	12,504	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,189	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets acquired:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Student base	 	 	 	 	 	 	177,822	 	 	 	3.50 years	 	
Partnership agreement	 	 	 	 	 	 	97,656	 	 	 	3.50 years	 	
Non-compete agreement	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,915	 	 	 	2.00 years	 	
Education license	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,915	 	 	 	1.50 years	 	
Goodwill	 	 	 	 	 	 	1,338,753	 	 	 	 	 	
Deferred tax liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	(70,327	)	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payable for business acquisition-current	 	 	550,956	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payable for business acquisition-non-current	 	 	367,304	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Obligation absent of IPO	 	 	787,080	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total acquisition obligation	 	 	1,705,340	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Less	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Discount to present value at date of acquisition	 	 	(139,913	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total purchase consideration	 	 	 	 	 	$	1,565,427	 	 	 	 	 	

The purchase price allocation described above was based on a valuation analysis provided by American Appraisal China Limited, a third party valuation firm. The valuation analysis utilizes and considers generally accepted valuation methodologies such as the income, market and cost approach. The Company has incorporated certain assumptions, which include projected cash flows. The company renegotiated the above acquisition agreement (See Note 4).
 
Acquisition in Shanghai
 
On August 1, 2008, Xueersi Network acquired 100% equity interest in Shanghai Lehai and its two 100% owned subsidiaries, Minhang School and Changning School. According to the acquisition agreements, $1,027,577, or 50% of the total consideration is contingent upon the two original shareholders’ continuing employment with Shanghai Lehai for at least three years after the acquisition. As the contingent consideration arrangement would be automatically forfeited if any of these two original shareholders terminates his/her employment with Shanghai Lehai, the amount has been accounted for as employment compensation for post-combination services of the original shareholders. As of February 28, 2010, the purchase price was paid in full.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
The purchase price of Shanghai Lehai was allocated as follows:

 	 	 	 	 	Amortization
	 	
 	 	 	 	 	period	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	173,832	 	 	 	 	 	
Prepaid expense and other current assets	 	 	102,010	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment	 	 	157,523	 	 	 	 	 	
Accrued expense and other current liabilities	 	 	(344,380	)	 	 	 	 	
Income tax payable	 	 	(1,585	)	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets acquired:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Partnership agreement	 	 	330,865	 	 	 	3.50 years	 	
Trade name	 	 	262,360	 	 	 	10.00 years	 	
Student base	 	 	164,704	 	 	 	3.50 years	 	
Non-compete agreement	 	 	16,033	 	 	 	3.00 years	 	
Education license	 	 	3,207	 	 	 	1.67 years	 	
Goodwill	 	 	357,300	 	 	 	 	 	
Deferred tax liabilities	 	 	(194,292	)	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total consideration	 	$	1,027,577	 	 	 	 	 	

The purchase price allocation described above was based on a valuation analysis provided by American Appraisal China Limited, a third party valuation firm. The valuation analysis utilizes and considers generally accepted valuation methodologies such as the income, market and cost approach. The Company has incorporated certain assumptions, which include projected cash flows.
 
The Group also made other acquisitions during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009 in Tianjin, Qianjiang, and Jianli, for a total consideration of $605,754.
 
The results of operations for the 100% equity interest of all these acquired entities have been included in the Group’s consolidated financial statements from their respective acquisition date. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
Pro forma
 
The following summary of unaudited pro forma results of operations of five acquired businesses for the years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 was presented with the assumption that all the five acquisitions described above during the year ended February 28, 2009 occurred as of March 1, 2007 and 2008, respectively. These pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which would have resulted had the significant acquisitions occurred as of March 1, 2007 and 2008, nor are they indicative of future operating results.

 	 	For the years ended	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	
 	 	(unaudited)	 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	9,517,600	 	 	$	37,876,116	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group	 	$	1,546,449	 	 	$	6,598,516	 	
Net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.02	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.02	 	
Net income per Series A	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
convertible redeemable preferred share—Basic	 	 	— 	 	 	$	17.68	 	

 	 	
4. 	Extinguishment of Liabilities	
 
In January 2009, the performance of Wuhan School was not in line with expectations at the time of the purchase. Since the Company had not yet fully paid the acquisition obligation, Xueersi Network renegotiated with the original shareholders of Wuhan School to adjust the remaining payments.
 
The acquisition payable at that time was $1,605,625 and was reduced to $874,533 and will be settled in cash. As a result, Xueersi Network’s acquisition payables of $731,092 were waived. This amount was treated as a gain on extinguishment of liabilities for the year ended February 28, 2009.

5. 	Available-for-Sale Securities	
 
In August 2007 and December 2009, the Group bought two securities in mutual funds named Wan Jia He Xie Financing Fund and Guo Du No. 1 An Xin Shou Yi, respectively. The securities were classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
The available-for-sale securities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

Balance as of March 1, 2007	 	$	— 	 	
Purchase	 	 	660,519	 	
Foreign exchange difference	 	 	42,567	 	
Changes in fair value(1)	 	 	(73,623	)	
 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 29, 2008	 	 	629,463	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Changes in fair value(1)	 	 	(289,045	)	
 	 	 	 	 	
Balances as of February 28, 2009	 	 	340,418	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Purchase	 	 	1,464,231	 	
Changes in fair value	 	 	112,708	 	
Foreign exchange difference	 	 	799	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2010	 	$	1,918,156	 	

 
 	 	 	
(1)	 	The Group determined the decline to be other-than temporary due to the continuing challenging global financial markets, poor performance of the equity markets, as well as the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the securities had continued to be less than the cost and therefore booked an impairment loss in the income statement of $266,111, net of tax effect of $96,557.	
 
The Group values the mutual funds using quoted price in active market to determine the fair value of available-for-sale securities (Level 1 valuation). The following provides additional information concerning the Group’s available-for-sale securities:

 	 	As of February 28, 2009	 	 	As of February 28, 2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	Gross
	 	 	Gross
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Gross
	 	 	Gross
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Cost	 	 	gains	 	 	(losses)	 	 	Fair value	 	 	Cost	 	 	gains	 	 	(losses)	 	 	Fair value	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mutual fund	 	$	340,418	 	 	$	— 	 	 	$	— 	 	 	$	340,418	 	 	$	1,805,448	 	 	$	120,678	 	 	$	(7,970	)	 	$	1,918,156	 	

 	 	
6. 	Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets	
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Prepaid rent	 	$	797,674	 	 	$	1,344,238	 	
Prepayments to suppliers	 	 	391,049	 	 	 	305,782	 	
Staff advances	 	 	165,257	 	 	 	450,705	 	
Others	 	 	60,943	 	 	 	180,216	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	1,414,923	 	 	$	2,280,941	 	

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

7. 	Property and Equipment, Net	
 
Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Leasehold improvement	 	$	1,280,185	 	 	$	3,399,250	 	
Computer, network equipment and software	 	 	869,600	 	 	 	2,293,808	 	
Vehicles	 	 	458,412	 	 	 	624,296	 	
Office equipment and furniture	 	 	377,318	 	 	 	462,112	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	 	(514,178	)	 	 	(1,787,976	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	2,471,337	 	 	$	4,991,490	 	

For the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, depreciation expenses were $46,416, $452,009, and $1,272,074, respectively.

8. 	Intangible Assets, Net	
 
Intangible assets, net, consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Domain names	 	$	1,846,858	 	 	$	1,846,858	 	
Partnership agreement	 	 	425,576	 	 	 	425,576	 	
Student base	 	 	348,566	 	 	 	348,566	 	
Trade name	 	 	262,360	 	 	 	262,360	 	
Non-compete agreement	 	 	19,200	 	 	 	19,200	 	
Education license	 	 	9,902	 	 	 	9,902	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Less: accumulated amortization	 	 	(696,148	)	 	 	(1,537,341	)	
Add: foreign exchange difference	 	 	10,029	 	 	 	14,039	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	2,226,343	 	 	$	1,389,160	 	

Domain names were acquired from third parties. The rest of intangible assets were recorded as a result of the acquisitions of the five businesses in the year ended February 28, 2009 (see Note 3).
 
The Group recorded amortization expense of $114,536, $565,300, and $841,193 for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009, and 2010, respectively.
 
Estimated amortization expenses of the existing intangible assets for the next five years are $717,070, $502,879, $26,371, $26,371 and $26,371, respectively.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

9. 	Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accrued payroll and bonus	 	$	2,303,069	 	 	$	3,893,895	 	
Social insurance payable	 	 	38,791	 	 	 	453,081	 	
Payable for business acquisitions	 	 	533,035	 	 	 	513,062	 	
Other taxes payable	 	 	634,397	 	 	 	1,343,425	 	
Others	 	 	100,505	 	 	 	614,353	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	3,609,797	 	 	$	6,817,816	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payable for the acquisition of a school in Tianjin	 	 	 	 	 	$	76,760	 	
Payable for the acquisition of Jianli School	 	 	 	 	 	 	137,257	 	
Payable for the acquisition of Qianjiang School	 	 	 	 	 	 	137,257	 	
Payable for the acquisition of Wuhan School	 	 	 	 	 	 	161,788	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payable for business acquisitions	 	 	 	 	 	$	513,062	 	

 	 	
10. 	Convertible Loan	
 
On January 30, 2010, a third party agreed to provide the Company a $500,000 convertible loan, which bears an annual interest rate of 15% and will mature on January 30, 2012. The interest is payable annually. Subject to mutual agreement, the date of maturity may be extended to January 30, 2015.
 
The loan is convertible at the option of the holder, at any time, into such number of Class B common shares of the Company as determined by dividing $500,000 by the conversion price. The conversion price was initially set at $50 per share and then subject to adjustments for dilution, including but not limited to issuance of additional Class B common shares and share split.
 
As of the balance sheet date, the conversion option of the convertible loan does not meet the criteria for an embedded derivative. If the conversion option survives an IPO, it would be required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately as a derivative.
 
As of February 28, 2010, the fair value of the convertible loan approximated its carrying amount since the effective interest rate did not fluctuate significantly during its one month outstanding period.

11. 	Income Taxes	
 
Cayman Islands
 
The Company is a tax-exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.
 
Hong Kong
 
Xueersi Hong Kong was established in Hong Kong in March 2008. Xueersi Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax on its activities conducted in Hong Kong. It was subject to Hong Kong profit tax at
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
16.5%. No provision for Hong Kong Profits tax has been made in the consolidated financial statements as it has no assessable income for the years ended February 28, 2009, and 2010.
 
PRC
 
The subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC were generally subject to a corporate income tax rate of 33% prior to January 1, 2008 except for those subsidiaries that enjoyed tax holidays or preferential tax treatment. Xueersi Network and Haidian Xueersi were entitled to a one year tax exemption in calendar year 2007 as they were newly established companies in calendar year 2007.
 
Effective from January 1, 2008, a new Enterprise Income Tax Law, or (“the New EIT Law”), combined the previous income tax laws for foreign invested and domestic invested enterprises in the PRC by the adoption a unified tax rate of 25% for most enterprises with the following exceptions.
 
Certain qualified high and new technology enterprises that meet the definition of “high and new technology enterprise strongly supported by the state” (“HNTE”) could benefit from a preferential tax rate of 15%. Xueersi Education qualified as a HNTE under the New EIT Law effective from January 1, 2008 and therefore for a preferential tax rate of 15%. In addition, since the entity is located in a high technology zone in Beijing and qualified as a high-tech company, it was entitled to a three-year exemption from the enterprise income tax from calendar year 2006 to 2008 and a further tax reduction to a rate of 7.5% from calendar year 2009 to 2011.
 
Accordingly, in calculating deferred tax assets and liabilities, the Group assumed Xueersi Education will continue to renew the new HNTE status at the conclusion of the initial three-year period. If Xueersi Education failed to obtain such renewals after 2010, then the deferred tax assets as of February 28, 2010 would increase by $29,259.
 
TAL Beijing was qualified as “Newly Established Software Enterprise” and therefore it was entitled to a two-year exemption from EIT from calendar year 2009 to 2010 and a further reduction to 12.5% from calendar year 2011 to 2013.
 
Provision (credit) for income tax consisted of the following:

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current —	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
PRC income tax expenses	 	$	304,620	 	 	$	2,620,738	 	 	$	1,936,420	 	
Deferred —	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
PRC income tax expenses	 	 	(139,879	)	 	 	(602,485	)	 	 	(557,895	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	164,741	 	 	$	2,018,253	 	 	$	1,378,525	 	

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Group’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current deferred tax assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Undistributed payroll	 	$	510,275	 	 	$	903,939	 	
Less: valuation allowance	 	 	(29,146	)	 	 	(72,642	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current deferred tax assets, net	 	 	481,129	 	 	 	831,297	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment	 	 	35,434	 	 	 	134,915	 	
Intangible assets	 	 	70,558	 	 	 	163,003	 	
Tax losses carry-forward deferred tax assets	 	 	137,639	 	 	 	303,909	 	
Less: valuation allowance	 	 	(112,342	)	 	 	(317,859	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax assets, net	 	 	131,289	 	 	 	283,968	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets	 	 	203,776	 	 	 	147,433	 	
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	28,177	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax liabilities	 	$	203,776	 	 	$	175,610	 	

As of February 28, 2010, tax loss carry-forward amounted to $1,251,685 and would expire by the end of calendar year 2015. The Group operates its business through its subsidiaries, its VIEs and their subsidiaries. The Group does not file combined or consolidated tax returns, therefore, losses from individual subsidiaries or the VIEs and their subsidiaries may not be used to offset other subsidiaries’ or VIEs’ earnings within the Group. Valuation allowance is considered on each individual subsidiary and VIE basis. A valuation allowance of $390,501 had been established as of February 28, 2010, in respect of certain deferred tax assets as it is considered more likely than not that the relevant deferred tax assets will not be realized in the foreseeable future.
 
Under US GAAP, a deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting amounts over tax basis amounts, including those differences attributable to a more than 50% interest in a domestic subsidiary. However, recognition is not required in situations where the tax law provides a means by which the reported amount of that investment can be recovered tax-free and the enterprise expects that it will ultimately use that means. The Company has not recorded any such deferred tax liability attributable to the undistributed earnings of its financial interest in VIEs because it believes such excess earnings can be distributed in a manner that would not be subject to income tax.
 
The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes. The Group has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in financial statements for
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010. The Group did not incur any interest and penalties related to potential underpaid income tax expenses and also does not anticipate any significant increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. The Group has no material unrecognized tax benefits which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods. The years 2007 to 2009 remain subject to examination by the PRC tax authorities.
 
Reconciliation between the provision for income taxes computed by applying the PRC EIT rates of 33% in calendar year 2007, and 25% in calendar year 2008 and 2009 to income before income taxes and the actual provision for income tax was as follows:

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income before provision for income tax	 	$	1,677,313	 	 	$	9,298,922	 	 	$	15,623,484	 	
PRC statutory tax rate	 	 	33	% (1)	 	 	25	%	 	 	25	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income tax at statutory tax rate	 	 	553,513	 	 	 	2,324,731	 	 	 	3,905,871	 	
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Salaries and employees’ benefits	 	 	64,410	 	 	 	214,023	 	 	 	— 	 	
Other expenses not deductable	 	 	23,593	 	 	 	257,357	 	 	 	289,945	 	
Effect of income tax exemptions	 	 	(476,775	)	 	 	(923,868	)	 	 	(3,070,154	)	
Effect of income tax rate difference in other jurisdictions	 	 	— 	 	 	 	5,527	 	 	 	3,850	 	
Change in valuation allowance	 	 	— 	 	 	 	140,483	 	 	 	249,013	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Provision for income tax	 	$	164,741	 	 	$	2,018,253	 	 	$	1,378,525	 	

 
 	 	 	
(1)	 	PRC statutory tax rate was 33% for the period between March 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 and 25% for the period between January 1, 2008 and February 29, 2008.	
 
If Xueersi Education, Xueersi Network and Haidian Xueersi were not in a tax holiday period for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, the provision for income tax and earnings per share amounts would be as follows:

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Provision for income tax	 	$	476,775	 	 	$	923,868	 	 	$	3,070,154	 	
Net income per common share-basic	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.02	 	 	$	0.09	 	
Net income per Series A preferred share-basic	 	$	— 	 	 	$	17.68	 	 	$	0.09	 	
Net income per common share-diluted	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.02	 	 	$	0.09	 	

New EIT Law includes a provision specifying that legal entities organized outside of the PRC will be considered residents for Chinese Income tax purposes if the place of effective management or control is within the PRC. The implementation rules to the New EIT Law provide that non-resident legal entities will be considered PRC residents if substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc, occurs within the PRC. Despite the present
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
uncertainties resulting from the limited PRC tax guidance on the issue, the Group does not believe that the legal entities organized outside of the PRC within the Group should be treated as residents for EIT law purposes. If the PRC tax authorities subsequently determine that the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC should be deemed a resident enterprise, the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC will be subject to the PRC income tax at a rate of 25%.
 
If the Company were to be non-resident for PRC tax purpose, dividends paid to it out of profits earned after January 1, 2008 would be subject to a withholding tax. In the case of dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries, the withholding tax would be 10%.
 
Aggregate undistributed earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries located in the PRC that are available for distribution to the Company of approximately $4,311,088 and $18,202,179 as of February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively, are considered to be indefinitely reinvested and accordingly, no provision has been made for the Chinese dividend withholding taxes that would be payable upon the distribution of those amounts to the Company. The Chinese tax authorities have also clarified that distributions made out of pre January 1, 2008 retained earnings will not be subject to the withholding tax.

12. 	Impairment Loss on Intangible Assets and Goodwill	
 
Impairment loss on intangible assets
 
For the year ended February 28, 2009, the performance of Qianjiang School, Jianli School and Wuhan School was not in line with expectations. As a result, partnership agreement, student base, non-compete agreement and education license generated from the acquisitions of these three schools with a total carrying amount of $591,747 were written down to their fair value of $232,376.
 
Impairment loss on intangible assets for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010 was $nil, $359,371 and $nil, respectively.
 
Impairment loss on goodwill
 
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended February 28, 2009 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 	 	As of February 28,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Goodwill	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Beginning balance	 	$	— 	 	 	$	762,272	 	
Goodwill recognized in business acquisition	 	 	2,021,450	 	 	 	— 	 	
Impairment	 	 	(1,256,084	)	 	 	— 	 	
Foreign exchange difference due to translation	 	 	(3,094	)	 	 	1,530	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Ending balance	 	$	762,272	 	 	$	763,802	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accumulated goodwill impairment	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Beginning balance	 	$	— 	 	 	$	(1,256,084	)	
Impairment	 	 	(1,256,084	)	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Ending balance	 	$	(1,256,084	)	 	$	(1,256,084	)	

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
As the performance of Wuhan School was not in line with expectations at the time of the purchase, the Group determined this to be a triggering event to perform the goodwill impairment test before the annual impairment test. On January 31, 2009, the Group recognized an impairment loss of $1,187,830 for the goodwill arising from the acquisition of Wuhan School.
 
The Group recognized a $68,254 impairment loss for the goodwill arising from the acquisition of Qianjiang School for the year ended February 28, 2009.
 
The Group incurred $nil, $1,256,084 and $nil impairment loss on goodwill for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

13. 	Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares	
 
In February 2009, the Company issued 5,000,000 Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares to an investor at an issuance price of $1 per share for total cash proceeds of $5,000,000 before issuance cost of $113,035.
 
The rights, preferences, privileges and restriction granted to and imposed on the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares are as follows.
 
Conversion
 
Each Series A convertible redeemable preferred share may, at the option of the holders, be converted at any time into one fully-paid and non-assessable Class B common share of the Company, or is automatically converted into one fully-paid and non-assessable Class B common share upon the closing of a qualified IPO. The Conversion Price for the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (“Conversion Price”) shall initially equal the original issue price and shall be adjusted from time to time for share splits and combinations, Class B common share dividends and distributions, other dividends; reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, reclassifications, exchanges, substitutions and sales of shares below the Conversion Price.
 
The share purchase agreement of the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares has a down-round provision which requires the conversion price of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares to be subject to adjustment by the Company of equity or any instrument or securities convertible into equity at a purchase price less than the then-effective conversion price. This provision may potentially cause the conversion price to be lower than the fair value of the common stock at the commitment date, which may result a contingent beneficial conversion feature.
 
The Company has determined that there was no embedded beneficial conversion feature attributable to the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares because the initial effective conversion price was higher than the fair value of the Class B common shares at the commitment date.
 
Dividend participation rights
 
The holders of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares are entitled to receive dividends ratably according to the number of Class B common shares that each preferred share may be converted into. Dividends shall be non-cumulative.
 
Liquidation preference
 
Before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any common shares, the holder of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to 100% of the
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
original issue price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus any accrued but unpaid dividends with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share then held by such holder. All arrears or accruals of dividends due to the holders of Series A convertible redeemable preferred share is in priority to the holders of all other shares.
 
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed ratably among the holders of outstanding common shares and holders of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares on an as-converted basis.
 
Voting rights
 
The holder of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares has the voting rights determined based on the equivalent number of the Company’s Class B common shares into which their preferred shares are converted.
 
Redemption
 
The Company is obligated to redeem all the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares after December 31, 2011, or at any time when there is a material breach of any of the Company warranties at a price equaled 180% of the original issue price. The Group recognized changes in the redemption value $4,113,035 as deemed dividend upon issuance in the year ended February 28, 2009.

14. 	Common Shares	
 
On January 10, 2008, the Company issued 1,000 Class B common shares at par value of $0.001.
 
As a result of the reorganization relating to the incorporation of the Company, the outstanding Class B common shares have been deemed to be 1,000 shares for the year ended February 29, 2008. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if the current share structure had been in existence throughout the periods presented.
 
On February 12, 2009, the Company issued 119,999,000 additional Class B common shares proportionally to the existing founding shareholders at par value. This issuance is considered as an issuance with nominal consideration and has been therefore treated in a manner akin to a stock split and the computations of basic and diluted net income per share were adjusted retroactively for all periods presented.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

15. 	Net Income per Share	

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group	 	$	1,512,572	 	 	$	7,280,669	 	 	$	14,244,959	 	
Deemed dividend on Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares-accretion of redemption premium	 	 	— 	 	 	 	4,113,035	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Undistributed net income to TAL Education Group shareholders	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	3,167,634	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Numerator used in basic and diluted net income per share:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders allocated for computing net income per common share-basic	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	3,161,499	(i)(ii)	 	 	13,675,161	(i)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders allocated for computing net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares-basic	 	 	— 	 	 	 	4,119,170	(i)(iii)	 	 	569,798	(i)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders allocated for computing net income per common share-diluted	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	3,161,499	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shares (denominator):	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income per common share—basic	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares—basic	 	 	— 	 	 	 	232,877	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income per common share—diluted	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	125,000,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders-basic	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-basic	 	$	— 	 	 	$	17.69	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per common share attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders-basic-diluted	 	$	0.01	 	 	$	0.03	 	 	$	0.11	 	

 
 	 	 	
(i)	 	In 2009 and 2010, undistributed net income was allocated between common shares and preferred shares on pro rata basis on the dividend participating rights. Since each Series A convertible redeemable preferred share has the same participating right as each common share, the allocation was based on the	

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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	weighted average numbers of common shares and Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares. The net income allocated for computing net income per preferred share-basic also contains the deemed dividend for accretion of the redemption premium.	
 	 	 	
(ii)	 	For the year ended February 28, 2009, $3,167,634 of undistributed net income was allocated between the weighted average numbers of 120,000,000 common shares and 232,877 Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares. Therefore, undistributed net income allocated for common shares was $3,161,499 and $6,135 for Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares.	

(iii)	 	For the year ended February 28, 2009, net income allocated for computing net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares-basic was $4,119,170 of which $6,135 was undistributed net income allocated between the weighted average numbers of common shares and Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares and $4,113,035 was deemed dividend on Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares.	

16. 	Commitments and Contingencies	
 
Lease commitment
 
The Group leases certain office premises under non-cancellable leases, the term of which are ten years or less and are renewable upon negotiation. Rental expenses under operating leases for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010 were $1,176,223, $4,858,363 and $9,862,702, respectively.
 
Future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of February 28, 2010 were as follows:

Fiscal year ending	 	 	 	 	
February 2011	 	$	13,154,964	 	
February 2012	 	 	12,113,895	 	
February 2013	 	 	8,044,734	 	
February 2014	 	 	6,134,223	 	
February 2015 and after	 	 	3,226,231	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	42,674,047	 	

 	 	
17. 	Segment Information	
 
Segment information
 
The Group is mainly engaged in after-school tutoring in the PRC. The Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer who reviews financial information of separate operating segments based on US GAAP amounts when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. The business is now organized and monitored on the basis of geographic locations. The CODM now reviews results analyzed by service line and geographic location. This analysis is only presented at the revenue level with no allocation of direct or indirect costs. Consequently, the Group has determined that it has only one operating segment.
 
Geographic information
 
The Group primary operates in the PRC and all of the Group’s long-lived assets are located in the PRC.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
Major customers
 
For the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, there was no customer who accounted for 10% or more of the Group’s revenues.
 
Components of revenues are presented in the following table:

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Educational programs and services	 	$	8,882,191	 	 	$	37,152,739	 	 	$	69,138,216	 	
Educational materials and others	 	 	— 	 	 	 	322,844	 	 	 	455,307	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total revenues	 	$	8,882,191	 	 	$	37,475,583	 	 	$	69,593,523	 	

 	 	
18. 	Mainland China Contribution Plan	
 
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government-mandated defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. The PRC labor regulations require the Group to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries. Total contributions for such employee benefits were $49,633, $668,433, and $1,819,178 for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

19. 	Statutory Reserves and Restricted Net Assets	
 
As stipulated by the relevant PRC laws and regulations applicable to the Group’s entities in the PRC, the Group is required to make appropriations from net income as determined in accordance with the PRC GAAP to non-distributable reserves, which include a statutory surplus reserve and a statutory welfare reserve. The PRC laws and regulations require that annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income should be set aside prior to payments of dividends as reserve fund, and in private school sector, the PRC laws and regulations require that annual appropriations of 25% of after-tax income should be set aside prior to payments of dividend as development fund. The appropriations to statutory surplus reserve are required until the balance reaches 50% of the PRC entity registered capital.
 
The statutory reserve may be applied against prior year losses, if any, and may be used for general business expansion and production or increase in registered capital of the entities. For the years ended February 28, 2009 and 2010, the Group made apportions of $728,067 and $1,616,067 to the statutory surplus reserve fund, respectively, and $1,438,711 and $580,558 to the development fund, respectively.
 
As a result of these PRC laws and regulations and the requirement that distributions by PRC entities can only be paid out of distributable profits computed in accordance with PRC GAAP, the PRC entities are restricted from transferring a portion of their net assets to the Group. Amounts restricted include paid-in capital and the statutory reserves of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs. As of February 28, 2009 and 2010, paid-in capital of such entities was $5,459,898 and $5,929,641, respectively, and statutory reserves were $2,660,818 and $4,857,443, respectively. The total of restricted net assets was therefore $8,120,716 and $10,787,084, respectively. As a result of the above restrictions, parent-only financials are presented on financial statement Schedule I, which begins on page F-37.
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TAL Education Group

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

20. 	Related Party Transactions	
 
The Group had the following balances with related parties as of February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively:

 	(a) 	Amounts due from the founding shareholders-non-trading	

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Founding shareholders	 	$	92,112	(i)	 	$	— 	 	

 	 	 	
 	i. 	The amounts represent cash advances to the founding shareholders for business expansion.	

 	(b) 	Amount due to the founding shareholders-non-trading	

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Founding shareholders	 	$	101,043	(ii)	 	$	108,204	(ii)	

 	 	 	
 	ii. 	The amount represents rental deposits and acquisition consideration paid by the founding shareholder on behalf of the Group.	
 
Amounts due from (to) shareholders are non-interest bearing and unsecured with no fixed repayment terms. There was no right to offset the amounts due to and due from the same shareholders.

21. 	Capital Contribution	
 
The founding shareholders contributed $131,810, $365,508 and $219,743 capital to establish new entities (see Note 1) during the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

22. 	Distribution to Shareholders	
 
In November 2008, Xueersi Network declared $1,442,020 (RMB10,000,000) cash distribution to its founding shareholders, prior to a series of contractual arrangements entered into on February 12, 2009 (see Note 1). As of February 28, 2009, the amount was $1,462,095 due to the change in the foreign exchange rate. The amount was paid in full in April 2009. No further distribution was declared afterwards.

23.  	Pro Forma Information (Unaudited)	
 
Unaudited pro forma net income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the sum of (i) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year ended February 28, 2010 and (ii) the number of common shares whose proceeds, calculated using the share price at the midpoint of the price range shown on the face of this prospectus, would be necessary to pay the amount by which the conditional $30.0 million cash dividend exceeds the Company’s earnings for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, assuming these shares have been outstanding since March 1, 2009 because this distribution to the Company’s then existing shareholders is to be paid out of the proceeds of this initial public offering.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

24. 	Subsequent Events	
 
The Company has evaluated all events subsequent to the balance sheet date of February 28, 2010 through September 29, 2010, the date when the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.
 
On April 21, 2010, the State Administration of Taxation issued Circular 157 Further Clarification on Implementation of Preferential EIT Rate during Transition Periods (“Circular 157”). Circular 157 seeks to provide additional guidance on the interaction of certain preferential tax rates under the transitional rules of the New EIT Law. Prior to Circular 157, we interpreted the law to mean that if an HNTE entity was in a tax holiday period, including “2-year exemption plus 3-year half rate”, “5-year exemption plus 5-year half rate” and other tax exemptions and reductions, where it was entitled to a 50% reduction in the tax rate and was also entitled to a 15% rate of tax due to HNTE status under the New EIT Law, then it was entitled to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Circular 157 appears to have the effect that such an entity is entitled to pay tax at either the lower of 15% or 50% of the standard PRC tax rate (i.e. currently 25%). Circular 157 was unclear as to whether its effect is retrospective but Xueersi Education understands that the State Administration of Taxation has recently taken the position that the Circular applies only to tax years commencing from January 1, 2010.
 
Based on the interpretation of Circular 157 from the relevant local tax district, Xueersi Education believes that entities that qualify for “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” tax holiday as HNTEs and which are registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology industrial Zones of Beijing, will continue to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Since Xueersi Education enjoys “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” and is a HNTE status registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology industrial Zones of Beijing, Xueersi Education does not believe that Circular 157 has any effect on its tax position.
 
New established entity
 
In March 2010, Xueersi Education established a wholly owned subsidiary, Beijing Haidian Lejiale Training School (“Haidian Lejiale”). The principle activities of Haidian Lejiale are to provide after-school tutoring for primary and secondary school students and language education and training in Beijing.
 
Class B common share subscription receivable
 
The Class B common shares subscription receivable was fully paid by the founding shareholders in June 2010.
 
2010 Share Incentive Plan
 
In June 2010, the Company adopted the 2010 Share Incentive Plan. The plans permit the grant of options to purchase the Class A common shares, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, dividend equivalent rights and other instruments as deemed appropriate by the administrator under the plans. The maximum aggregate number of Class A common shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under the stock incentive plan is 18,750,000 shares.
 
On July 26, 2010, the Group granted 5,419,500 nonvested shares under this share incentive plan to directors, executive officers and employees. The estimated fair value of the Class A common share on the grant date was $5 per share. The nonvested shares will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set out in the award agreement, which is (1) 100% of 945,100 nonvested shares at the first anniversary of the date of grant, or (2) 1/2 of 831,400 nonvested shares on each of the anniversaries since the date of grant, or (3) 1/4 of 3,643,000 nonvested shares on each of the anniversaries since the date of grant.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009
and February 28, 2010
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)
 
Declaration of Dividend
 
On September 29, 2010, the Group declared a $30.0 million cash dividend to the Group’s then existing shareholders conditional upon the completion of the initial public offering.
 
Amendment to Memorandum and Articles of Association
 
On September 29, 2010, the Company adopted the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&AA). The share capital of the Company is US$1,000,000.00 divided into (i) 500,000,000 Class A common shares of par value US$0.001 each, (ii) 495,000,000 of Class B common shares of par value US$0.001 each, and (iii) 5,000,000 Series A preferred shares of par value US$0.001 each. All issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of September 29, 2010 are re-designated as Class B common shares. The outstanding preferred shares will be automatically converted into Class B common shares immediately prior to the closing of the initial public offering.
 
Holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A common share is entitled to one vote and each Class B common share is entitled to ten votes. Each Class B common share is convertible into one Class A common share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A common shares are not convertible into Class B common shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B common shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, such Class B common shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A common shares.
 
Upon adoption of the amended and restated M&AA, all shares and per share information presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been revised on a retroactive basis to reflect the re-designation of outstanding common shares as Class B common shares as if the amended and restated M&AA had been in place throughout the periods presented.
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Table of Contents
TAL Education Group

Additional Information—Financial Statement Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Balance Sheets
(In US$, except share and share related data)

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	5,000,000	 	 	$	500,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	 	5,000,000	 	 	 	500,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	 	— 	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	
Investments in subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	 	7,490,488	 	 	 	22,076,253	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	12,490,488	 	 	$	27,576,253	 	

Liabilities, Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares and Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	$	126,463	 	 	$	135,233	 	
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	 	 	8,680	 	 	 	14,949	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	135,143	 	 	 	150,182	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Convertible loan	 	 	— 	 	 	 	500,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities	 	 	135,143	 	 	 	650,182	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares ($0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares and 5,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively, liquidation value $5,000,000)	 	 	9,000,000	 	 	 	9,000,000	 	
Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common shares ($0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Class B common shares ($0.001 par value, 495,000,000 shares authorized as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010; 120,000,000 shares and 120,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 and February 28, 2010, respectively)	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	120,000	 	
Class B common shares subscription receivable	 	 	(120,000	)	 	 	(120,000	)	
Retained earnings	 	 	2,682,218	 	 	 	16,927,177	 	
Additional paid-in capital	 	 	559,898	 	 	 	779,641	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive income	 	 	113,229	 	 	 	219,253	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total equity	 	 	3,355,345	 	 	 	17,926,071	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities, convertible redeemable preferred shares and equity	 	$	12,490,488	 	 	$	27,576,253	 	

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Table of Contents
TAL Education Group

Additional Information—Financial Statement Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Statements of Operations
(In US$, except share and share related data)

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	$	— 	 	 	$	(22,126	)	 	$	(8,834	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating loss	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(22,126	)	 	 	(8,834	)	
Interest income	 	 	— 	 	 	 	18	 	 	 	43	 	
Interest expense	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(6,248	)	
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	7,302,777	 	 	 	14,259,998	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	1,512,572	 	 	$	7,280,669	 	 	$	14,244,959	 	

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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group

Additional Information—Financial Statement Schedule I
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Class B
	 	 	 	 	 	(Accumulated
	 	 	Accumulated
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Class B
	 	 	common share
	 	 	Additional
	 	 	deficit)
	 	 	other
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	common shares	 	 	subscription
	 	 	paid-in
	 	 	Retained
	 	 	comprehensive
	 	 	Total
	 	 	Comprehensive
	 	
 	 	Shares	 	 	Amount	 	 	receivable	 	 	capital	 	 	earnings	 	 	Income (loss)	 	 	equity	 	 	income	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of March 1, 2007	 	 	1,000	 	 	$	1	 	 	$	(1	)	 	$	62,580	 	 	$	(555,968	)	 	$	— 	 	 	$	(493,388	)	 	$	— 	 	
Capital contribution	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	131,810	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	131,810	 	 	 	— 	 	
Net income	 	 	 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	1,512,572	 	 	 	1,512,572	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	42,102	 	 	 	42,102	 	 	 	42,102	 	
Net unrealized (losses) on available- for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $24,296	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(49,327	)	 	 	(49,327	)	 	 	(49,327	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 29, 2008	 	 	1,000	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	(1	)	 	 	194,390	 	 	 	956,604	 	 	 	(7,225	)	 	 	1,143,769	 	 	$	1,505,347	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Capital contribution	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	365,508	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	365,508	 	 	 	— 	 	
Net income	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	 	 	7,280,669	 	
Issuance of Class B common shares	 	 	119,999,000	 	 	 	119,999	 	 	 	(119,999	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	
Distribution to shareholders	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,442,020	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(1,442,020	)	 	 	— 	 	
Accretion for Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares redemption premium	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113,035	)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(4,113,035	)	 	 	— 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	71,127	 	 	 	71,127	 	 	 	71,127	 	
Net unrealized (losses) on available- for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $72,261	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(216,784	)	 	 	(216,784	)	 	 	(216,784	)	
Transfer to the statements of operation of other-than-temporary-impairment, net of tax effect of ($96,557)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	266,111	 	 	 	266,111	 	 	 	266,111	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2009	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	(120,000	)	 	 	559,898	 	 	 	2,682,218	 	 	 	113,229	 	 	 	3,355,345	 	 	$	7,401,123	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Capital contribution	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	219,743	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	219,743	 	 	 	— 	 	
Net income	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	 	 	14,244,959	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	21,493	 	 	 	21,493	 	 	 	21,493	 	
Net unrealized gains on available- for-sale securities, net of tax effect of ($28,177)	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	84,531	 	 	 	84,531	 	 	 	84,531	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2010	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	$	120,000	 	 	$	(120,000	)	 	$	779,641	 	 	$	16,927,177	 	 	$	219,253	 	 	$	17,926,071	 	 	$	14,350,983	 	

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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group

Additional Information—Financial Statement Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Cash Flow Statements
(In US$, except share and share related data)

 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	 	For the year ended
	 	
 	 	February 29,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	 	February 28,
	 	
 	 	2008	 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from operating activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	1,512,572	 	 	$	7,280,669	 	 	$	14,244,959	 	
Equity in subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	 	(1,512,572	)	 	 	(7,302,777	)	 	 	(14,259,998	)	
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	 	— 	 	 	 	126,463	 	 	 	8,770	 	
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	8,680	 	 	 	6,269	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided (used in) by operating activities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	113,035	 	 	 	— 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from financing activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Proceeds from issuance of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance cost of $113,035	 	 	— 	 	 	 	4,886,965	 	 	 	— 	 	
Convertible loan	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	500,000	 	
Loan provided to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	(5,000,000	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	 	 	— 	 	 	 	4,886,965	 	 	 	(4,500,000	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	 	 	— 	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	 	 	(4,500,000	)	
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	 	 	— 	 	 	 	— 	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	 	$	— 	 	 	$	5,000,000	 	 	$	500,000	 	

Basis of presentation
 
The condensed financial information of the parent company, TAL Education Group, has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the Group’s consolidated financial statements except that the parent company used the equity method to account for investments in its subsidiaries and variable interest entities.
 
The Company records its investment in its subsidiaries and variable interest entities under the equity method of accounting. Such investment is presented on the balance sheets as “Investment in subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries” and share of their earnings as “Equity in subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries” on the statements of operations. As a result of PRC laws and regulations and the requirement that distributions by PRC entities can only be paid out of distributable profits computed in accordance with PRC GAAP, the PRC entities are restricted from transferring a portion of their net assets to the Group. Amounts restricted include paid-in capital and the statutory reserves of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs. As of February 28, 2009 and 2010, paid-in capital of such entities was $5,459,898 and $5,929,641, respectively, and statutory reserves were $2,660,818 and $4,857,443, respectively. The total amount of restricted net assets was therefore $8,120,716 and $10,787,084, respectively. As a result of the above restrictions, parent-only financials are presented herein.
 
Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted.
 
Convertible loan
 
On January 30, 2010, a third party agreed to provide the Company a $500,000 convertible loan, which bears an annual interest rate of 15% and will mature on January 30, 2012. The interest is payable annually. Subject to mutual agreement, the date of maturity may be extended to January 30, 2015.
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Table of Contents
TAL EDUCATION GROUP
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pro forma
	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	(unaudited)
	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	(Note 2)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	50,752,481	 	 	$	81,494,598	 	 	$	81,494,598	 	
Available-for-sale securities	 	 	1,918,156	 	 	 	448,277	 	 	 	448,277	 	
Inventory	 	 	121,819	 	 	 	252,268	 	 	 	252,268	 	
Deferred costs in connection with initial public offering	 	 	—	 	 	 	437,152	 	 	 	437,152	 	
Deferred tax assets-current	 	 	831,297	 	 	 	1,226,469	 	 	 	1,226,469	 	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	 	 	2,280,941	 	 	 	3,838,203	 	 	 	3,838,203	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	 	55,904,694	 	 	 	87,696,967	 	 	 	87,696,967	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment, net	 	 	4,991,490	 	 	 	5,550,290	 	 	 	5,550,290	 	
Deferred tax assets-non-current	 	 	283,968	 	 	 	167,989	 	 	 	167,989	 	
Rental deposit	 	 	2,170,548	 	 	 	2,308,268	 	 	 	2,308,268	 	
Intangible assets, net	 	 	1,389,160	 	 	 	1,025,325	 	 	 	1,025,325	 	
Goodwill	 	 	763,802	 	 	 	765,923	 	 	 	765,923	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	65,503,662	 	 	$	97,514,762	 	 	$	97,514,762	 	

Liabilities, Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares and Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 915,408 and 485,115 as of February 28, 2010, and August 31, 2010, respectively)	 	$	987,742	 	 	$	712,710	 	 	$	712,710	 	
Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 24,631,648 and 31,858,213 as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively)	 	 	29,407,994	 	 	 	42,100,775	 	 	 	42,100,775	 	
Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education Group of 108,204 and 100,571 as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively)	 	 	108,204	 	 	 	100,571	 	 	 	100,571	 	
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities without recourse to TAL Education Group of 6,588,552 and 7,652,977 as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively)	 	 	6,817,816	 	 	 	9,618,867	 	 	 	9,618,867	 	
Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to TAL Education	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Group of 2,653,324 and 2,841,863 as of February 28, 2010, and August 31, 2010, respectively)	 	 	580,225	 	 	 	3,054,408	 	 	 	3,054,408	 	
Dividend proposed	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	30,000,000	 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	37,901,981	 	 	 	55,587,331	 	 	 	85,587,331	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Convertible loan	 	 	500,000	 	 	 	500,000	 	 	 	500,000	 	
Deferred tax liabilities-non-current	 	 	175,610	 	 	 	146,684	 	 	 	146,684	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities	 	 	38,577,591	 	 	 	56,234,015	 	 	 	86,234,015	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares ($0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares and 5,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively, liquidation value $5,000,000)	 	 	9,000,000	 	 	 	9,000,000	 	 	 	—	 	
Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TAL Education Group Shareholders’ Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common shares ($0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Class B common shares ($0.001 par value, 495,000,000 shares authorized as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010; 120,000,000 shares and 120,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively)	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	125,000	 	
Class B common shares subscription receivable	 	 	(120,000	)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Additional paid-in capital	 	 	779,641	 	 	 	1,699,503	 	 	 	(19,305,497	)	
Statutory reserve	 	 	4,857,443	 	 	 	4,857,443	 	 	 	4,857,443	 	
Retained earnings	 	 	12,069,734	 	 	 	25,315,575	 	 	 	25,315,575	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive income	 	 	219,253	 	 	 	288,226	 	 	 	288,226	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total TAL Education Group’s Equity	 	 	17,926,071	 	 	 	32,280,747	 	 	 	11,280,747	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities, convertible redeemable preferred shares and equity	 	$	65,503,662	 	 	$	97,514,762	 	 	$	97,514,762	 	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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TAL Education Group

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	Six-Month
	 	 	Six-Month
	 	
 	 	Period Ended
	 	 	Period Ended
	 	
 	 	August 31,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	32,983,005	 	 	$	53,022,037	 	
Cost of revenues (included share-based compensation nil and 109,413 for the periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)	 	 	16,067,926	 	 	 	26,254,975	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	 	 	16,915,079	 	 	 	26,767,062	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling and marketing (included share-based compensation nil and 162,998 for the periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)	 	 	1,958,295	 	 	 	4,183,992	 	
General and administrative (included share-based compensation nil and 647,451 for the periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)	 	 	4,601,514	 	 	 	7,807,640	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	6,559,809	 	 	 	11,991,632	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from operations	 	 	10,355,270	 	 	 	14,775,430	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	 	102,839	 	 	 	205,340	 	
Interest expense	 	 	—	 	 	 	(43,452	)	
Other expenses, net	 	 	(118,730	)	 	 	(27,373	)	
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities	 	 	—	 	 	 	6,429	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income tax provision	 	 	10,339,379	 	 	 	14,916,374	 	
Provision for income tax	 	 	912,268	 	 	 	1,670,533	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to common shareholders of TAL Education Group	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-Basic	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per common share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	
Diluted	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	125,193,360	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-basic	 	 	5,000,000	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Pro forma net income per common share (Note 2)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.10	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	$	0.10	 	
Weighted average shares used in calculating pro forma net income per common share (Note 2)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	—	 	 	 	123,723,146	 	
Diluted	 	 	—	 	 	 	128,723,146	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Table of Contents
TAL Education Group

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income

(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Class B
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Total TAL
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	common
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Accumulated
	 	 	Education
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Class B
	 	 	shares
	 	 	Additional
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	other
	 	 	Group
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	common shares	 	 	subscription
	 	 	paid-in
	 	 	Statutory
	 	 	Retained
	 	 	comprehensive
	 	 	shareholders’
	 	 	Comprehensive
	 	
 	 	Shares	 	 	Amount	 	 	receivable	 	 	capital	 	 	reserve	 	 	earnings	 	 	income	 	 	equity	 	 	income	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2009	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	$	120,000	 	 	$	(120,000	)	 	$	559,898	 	 	$	2,660,818	 	 	$	21,400	 	 	$	113,229	 	 	$	3,355,345	 	 	$	—	 	
Net income	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	9,427,111	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	19,702	 	 	 	19,702	 	 	 	19,702	 	
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $(18,528)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	41,739	 	 	 	41,739	 	 	 	41,739	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of August 31, 2009	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	$	120,000	 	 	$	(120,000	)	 	$	559,898	 	 	$	2,660,818	 	 	$	9,448,511	 	 	$	174,670	 	 	$	12,843,897	 	 	$	9,488,552	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of February 28, 2010	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	$	120,000	 	 	$	(120,000	)	 	$	779,641	 	 	$	4,857,443	 	 	$	12,069,734	 	 	$	219,253	 	 	$	17,926,071	 	 	$	—	 	
Subscription received	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	120,000	 	 	 	—	 	
Net income	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	
Share-based compensation	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	919,862	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	919,862	 	 	 	—	 	
Foreign currency translation-adjustment	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	72,615	 	 	 	72,615	 	 	 	72,615	 	
Transfer to statements of operations of realized losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $(1,997)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	5,973	 	 	 	5,973	 	 	 	5,973	 	
Net unrealized (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $3,204	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	(9,615	)	 	 	(9,615	)	 	 	(9,615	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of August 31, 2010	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	$	120,000	 	 	$	—	 	 	$	1,699,503	 	 	$	4,857,443	 	 	$	25,315,575	 	 	$	288,226	 	 	$	32,280,747	 	 	$	13,314,814	 	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
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Table of Contents
TAL Education Group
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows
(In U.S. dollars, except share and share related data)

 	 	Six-Month
	 	 	Six-Month
	 	
 	 	Periods Ended
	 	 	Periods Ended
	 	
 	 	August 31,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from operating activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	9,427,111	 	 	$	13,245,841	 	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation of property and equipment	 	 	438,369	 	 	 	1,140,156	 	
Amortization of intangible assets	 	 	335,783	 	 	 	367,471	 	
Share-based compensation	 	 	—	 	 	 	919,862	 	
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts due from related parties	 	 	92,223	 	 	 	—	 	
Inventory	 	 	(48,578	)	 	 	(130,501	)	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	 	 	(705,149	)	 	 	(1,690,015	)	
Deferred costs in connection with initial public offering	 	 	—	 	 	 	(274,942	)	
Deferred income taxes	 	 	(369,207	)	 	 	(308,730	)	
Rental deposit	 	 	(393,576	)	 	 	(157,500	)	
Accounts payable	 	 	84,417	 	 	 	(258,742	)	
Deferred revenue	 	 	5,672,499	 	 	 	12,577,482	 	
Amounts due to related parties	 	 	283,209	 	 	 	(7,948	)	
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	 	 	1,480,818	 	 	 	3,054,910	 	
Income tax payable	 	 	(99,657	)	 	 	2,477,391	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	 	16,198,262	 	 	 	30,954,735	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from investing activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purchase of property and equipment	 	 	(695,551	)	 	 	(1,684,984	)	
Sales of available-for-sale securities	 	 	—	 	 	 	1,470,660	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash (used in) investing activities	 	 	(695,551	)	 	 	(214,324	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from financing activities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payment of deferred consideration	 	 	(180,345	)	 	 	(283,180	)	
Distribution to shareholders	 	 	(1,442,020	)	 	 	—	 	
Subscription received	 	 	—	 	 	 	120,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash (used in) financing activities	 	 	(1,622,365	)	 	 	(163,180	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Effect of exchange rate changes	 	 	25,399	 	 	 	164,886	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	 	 	13,905,745	 	 	 	30,742,117	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	 	 	29,692,901	 	 	 	50,752,481	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	 	 	43,598,646	 	 	 	81,494,598	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Supplement disclosure of cash flow information	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income tax paid	 	 	1,381,236	 	 	 	1,369,739	 	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Table of Contents
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
1. Basis of Preparation
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial information of TAL Education Group (the “Company” or “TAL”), its subsidiaries , its Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) and VIEs’ subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Security and Exchange Commission and U.S. generally accepted accounting standards for interim financial reporting. The results of operations for the six-month periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full years. The Group believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, accounting policies and financial notes thereto included in the Group’s audited consolidated financial statements for each of the three years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010. In opinion of the management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments), which are necessary for a fair representation of financial results for the interim periods presented.
 
The financial information as of February 28, 2010 presented in the unaudited condensed financial statements is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2010.
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the same accounting policies as used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for each of the three years ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2009 and 2010, except for the additional accounting policy adopted with respect to a new revenue stream and share-based compensation as follows.
 
Revenue recognition
 
Online education services
 
The online education services provided by the Group to its customers include audio-video course content.
 
Customers enroll for online courses through the use of prepaid study cards. The proceeds collected from the online course education are initially recorded as deferred revenue. Revenues are recognized on a straight line basis over the subscription period from the date in which the students activate the courses to the date in which the subscribed courses end. Refund is provided to the students who decide to withdraw from the subscribed courses within the course offer period, which generally ranges from one month to six months, and a proportional refund is based on the percentage of untaken courses to the total courses offered.
 
Share-based compensation
 
Share-based payment transactions with employees are measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity instrument issued and recognized as compensation expense net of a forfeiture rate on a straight-line basis, over the requisite service period, with a corresponding impact reflected in additional paid-in capital.
 
The estimate of forfeiture rate will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeiture rate differs, or is expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeiture rate will be recognized through a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the period of change.
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
The VIE arrangements
 
The following financial statement balances and amounts of the Company’s VIEs were included in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	$	45,171,584	 	 	$	55,158,850	 	
Total non-current assets	 	 	8,792,445	 	 	 	8,366,390	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	 	53,964,029	 	 	 	63,525,240	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	34,897,136	 	 	 	42,938,739	 	
Total non-current liabilities	 	 	175,610	 	 	 	146,684	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities	 	$	35,072,746	 	 	$	43,085,423	 	

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Six-Month
	 	Six-Month
	
 	 	Periods Ended
	 	Periods Ended
	
 	 	August 31,
	 	August 31,
	
 	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net revenues	 	$	32,983,005	 	 	$	46,589,727	 	
Net income	 	$	10,385,657	 	 	$	14,324,095	 	

 	 	Six-Month
	 	Six-Month
	
 	 	Periods Ended
	 	Periods Ended
	
 	 	August 31,
	 	August 31,
	
 	 	2009	 	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	$	16,902,677	 	 	$	9,329,391	 	
Net cash (used in)/ provided by investing activities	 	$	(1,137,634	)	 	$	635,540	 	
Net cash (used in) financing activities	 	$	(1,622,365	)	 	$	(283,180	)	
 
There are no consolidated VIE assets that are collateral for the VIE’s obligations and can only be used to settle the VIE’s obligations.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement to amend the accounting rules for variable interest entities (VIEs). The amendments effectively replace the quantitative-based risks-and-rewards calculation for determining which reporting entity, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach focused on identifying which reporting entity has (1) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity. Additionally, an enterprise is required to assess whether it has an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that a variable interest entity operates as designed when determining whether it has the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about a reporting entity’s involvement with variable interest entities and about any significant changes in risk exposure as a result of that involvement.
 
The new guidance is effective at the start of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009, and all interim and annual periods thereafter. The new VIE model requires that, upon adoption, a reporting entity should determine whether an entity is a VIE, and whether the reporting entity is the VIE’s primary beneficiary, as of the date that the reporting entity first became involved with the entity,
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
unless an event requiring reconsideration of those initial conclusions occurred after that date. When making this determination, a reporting entity must assume that new guidance had been effective from the date of its first involvement with the entity. The Group adopted the new guidance on March 1, 2010.
 
The Company has had two VIEs, which it has consolidated under the authoritative literature prior to the amendment discussed above because it was the primary beneficiary of those entities. Because the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, has (1) the power to direct the activities of the two VIEs that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the right to receive benefits from the two VIES, it continues to consolidate the two VIEs upon the adoption of the new guidance which therefore, other than for additional disclosures, including those for prior periods, had no accounting impact.

2. 	Unaudited Pro Forma Information	
 
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of August 31, 2010 assumes the conversion of the Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares outstanding into Class B common shares using a conversion ratio of 1:1 as of that date and the accrual of a $30 million cash dividend declared on September 29, 2010 to the Company’s then existing shareholders payable upon the completion of the initial public offering, had occurred as of August 31, 2010.
 
Unaudited pro forma net income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the sum of (i) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the six months ended August 31, 2010 and (ii) the number of common shares whose proceeds, calculated using the share price at the midpoint of the price range shown on the face of this prospectus, would be necessary to pay the amount by which the conditional $30.0 million cash dividend exceeds the Company’s earnings for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, assuming these shares have been outstanding since March 1, 2009 because this distribution to the Company’s then existing shareholders is to be paid out of the proceeds of this initial public offering.
 
3. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
Not yet adopted
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. Although the new pronouncement retains the criteria from existing authoritative literature for when delivered items in a multiple-deliverable arrangement should be considered separate units of accounting, it removes the previous separation criterion that objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of any undelivered items must exist for the delivered items to be considered separate units of accounting. The new pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement (1) prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or (2) retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted; however, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also do the following in the period of adoption: (1) retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year and (2) disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding software revenue recognition. This new pronouncement amends existing pronouncement to exclude from their scope all tangible products containing both software and non software components that function together to deliver the product’s
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
essential functionality. That is, the entire product (including the software deliverables and non software deliverables) would be outside the scope of software revenue recognition and would be accounted for under other accounting literature. The new pronouncement include factors that entities should consider when determining whether the software and non software components function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality and are thus outside the revised scope of the authoritative literature that governs software revenue recognition. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement (1) prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or (2) retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted; however, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also do the following in the period of adoption: (1) retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year and (2) disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to improve disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance amends previous guidance on fair value measurements to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 measurement on a gross basis rather than as a net basis as currently required. This guidance also clarifies existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the level 3 activities of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis, which will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010. Early application is permitted and in the period of initial adoption, entities are not required to provide the amended disclosures for any previous periods presented for comparative purposes. The Group does not expect the adoption of this pronouncement will have a significant effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
In April 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the milestone method of revenue recognition. The scope of this pronouncement is limited to arrangements that include milestones relating to research or development deliverables. The pronouncement specific guidance that must be met for a vendor to recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a substantive milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. The guidance applies to milestones in arrangements within the scope of this pronouncement regardless of whether the arrangement is determined to have single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The pronouncement will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early application is permitted. Companies can apply this guidance prospectively to milestones achieved after adoption. However, retrospective application to all prior periods is also permitted. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In April 2010, FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the effect of denominating the exercise price of a share-based payment award in the currency of the market in which the underlying equity securities trades and that currency is different from (1) entity’s functional currency, (2) functional currency of the foreign operation for which the employee provides services, and (3) payroll currency of the employee. The guidance clarifies that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should be considered an equity award assuming all other criteria for equity classification are met. The pronouncement will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and will be applied prospectively. Affected entities will be required to record a cumulative catch-up adjustment for all awards
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
outstanding as of the beginning of the annual period in which the guidance is adopted. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
In July 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on disclosure about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses. The objective of this guidance is to provide financial statement users with greater transparency about an entity’s allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of its financing receivables. The guidance requires an entity to provide disclosures on a disaggregated basis on two defined levels: (1) portfolio segment; and (2) class of financing receivable. The guidance includes additional disclosure requirements about financing receivables, including: (1) Credit quality indicators of financing receivables at the end of the reporting period by class of financing receivables; (2) The aging of past due financing receivables at the end of the reporting period by class of financing receivables; and (3) The nature and extent of troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the period by class of financing receivables and their effect on the allowance for credit losses. For public entities, the disclosures as of the end of a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Group is in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption of this pronouncement.
 
4. Available-For-Sale Securities
 
In August 2007 and December 2009, the Group bought two securities in mutual funds named Wan Jia He Xie Financing Fund and Guo Du No. 1 An Xin Shou Yi, respectively. The securities were classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value. In March 2010, the Group sold the security named Guo Du No. 1 An Xin Shou Yi that had a carrying value of $1,456,261 for proceeds of $1,470,660 and transferred the previously unrecognized loss of $5,973 (net of tax of $1,997) from the accumulated other comprehensive income to the statements of operations.
 
The available-for-sale securities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

Balance as of March 1, 2010	 	 	1,918,156	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Disposed	 	 	(1,456,261	)	
Changes in fair value	 	 	(12,819	)	
Foreign exchange difference	 	 	(799	)	
 	 	 	 	 	
Balance as of August 31, 2010	 	$	448,277	 	

The Group values the mutual funds using quoted price in active market to determine the fair value of available-for-sale securities (Level 1 valuation). The following provides additional information concerning the Group’s available-for-sale securities:

 	 	As of February 28, 2010	 	 	As of August 31, 2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	Gross
	 	 	Gross
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Gross
	 	 	Gross
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	unrealized
	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Cost	 	 	gains	 	 	(losses)	 	 	Fair value	 	 	Cost	 	 	gains	 	 	(losses)	 	 	Fair value	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mutual fund	 	$	1,805,448	 	 	$	120,678	 	 	$	(7,970	)	 	$	1,918,156	 	 	$	340,418	 	 	$	107,859	 	 	 	—	 	 	$	448,277	 	

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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Prepaid rent	 	$	1,344,238	 	 	$	2,262,829	 	
Prepayments to suppliers	 	 	305,782	 	 	 	247,566	 	
Staff advances	 	 	450,705	 	 	 	197,781	 	
VAT refund receivable	 	 	—	 	 	 	603,146	 	
Others	 	 	180,216	 	 	 	526,881	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	2,280,941	 	 	$	3,838,203	 	

6. Property and Equipment, Net
 
Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Leasehold improvement	 	$	3,399,250	 	 	$	3,931,921	 	
Computer, network equipment and software	 	 	2,293,808	 	 	 	3,252,549	 	
Vehicles	 	 	624,296	 	 	 	757,688	 	
Office equipment and furniture	 	 	462,112	 	 	 	541,560	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	 	(1,787,976	)	 	 	(2,933,428	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	4,991,490	 	 	$	5,550,290	 	

The Group recognized depreciation expenses of $438,369 and $1,140,156 for the six-month periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively.
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
7. Intangible Assets, Net
 
Intangible assets, net, consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Domain names	 	$	1,846,858	 	 	$	1,846,858	 	
Partnership agreement	 	 	425,576	 	 	 	425,576	 	
Student base	 	 	348,566	 	 	 	348,566	 	
Trade name	 	 	262,360	 	 	 	262,360	 	
Non-compete agreement	 	 	19,200	 	 	 	19,200	 	
Education license	 	 	9,902	 	 	 	9,902	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Less: accumulated amortization	 	 	(1,537,341	)	 	 	(1,904,812	)	
Add: foreign exchange difference	 	 	14,039	 	 	 	17,675	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	1,389,160	 	 	$	1,025,325	 	

Domain names were acquired from third parties. The rest of intangible assets were recorded as a result of the acquisitions of the five businesses in the year ended February 28, 2009.
 
The Group recorded amortization expense of $335,783 and $367,471 for the six-month periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively.
 
Estimated amortization expenses of the existing intangible assets are $351,138, $505,663, $26,493, $26,493 and $117,011 for the six-month periods ending February 28, 2011 and for the fiscal year 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and thereafter, respectively.

8.  	Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accrued payroll and bonus	 	$	3,893,895	 	 	$	5,509,769	 	
Social insurance payable	 	 	453,081	 	 	 	705,402	 	
Payable for business acquisitions	 	 	513,062	 	 	 	240,198	 	
Other taxes payable	 	 	1,343,425	 	 	 	2,250,961	 	
Others	 	 	614,353	 	 	 	912,537	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	6,817,816	 	 	$	9,618,867	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payable for the acquisition of a school in Tianjin	 	$	76,760	 	 	$	77,128	 	
Payable for the acquisition of Jianli School	 	 	137,257	 	 	 	—	 	
Payable for the acquisition of Qianjiang School	 	 	137,257	 	 	 	—	 	
Payable for the acquisition of Wuhan School	 	 	161,788	 	 	 	163,070	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Payable for business acquisitions	 	$	513,062	 	 	$	240,198	 	

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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)

9.  	Income Taxes	
 
Cayman Islands
 
The Company is a tax-exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.
 
Hong Kong
 
Xueersi Hong Kong was established in Hong Kong in March 2008. Xueersi Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax on its activities conducted in Hong Kong. It was subject to Hong Kong profit tax at 16.5%. No provision for Hong Kong Profits tax has been made in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as it has no assessable income for the period from its establishment to August 31, 2010.
 
PRC
 
The subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC were generally subject to a corporate income tax rate of 33% prior to January 1, 2008 except for those subsidiaries that enjoyed tax holidays or preferential tax treatment. Xueersi Network and Haidian Xueersi were entitled to a one year tax exemption in calendar year 2007 as they were newly established companies in calendar year 2007.
 
Effective from January 1, 2008, a new Enterprise Income Tax Law, or (“the New EIT Law”), combined the previous income tax laws for foreign invested and domestic invested enterprises in the PRC by the adoption a unified tax rate of 25% for most enterprises with the following exceptions.
 
Certain qualified high and new technology enterprises that meet the definition of “high and new technology enterprise strongly supported by the state” (“HNTE”) could benefit from a preferential tax rate of 15%. Xueersi Education qualified as a HNTE under the New EIT Law effective from January 1, 2008 and therefore for a preferential tax rate of 15%. In addition, since the entity is located in a high technology zone in Beijing and qualified as a high-tech company, it was entitled to a three-year exemption from EIT from calendar year 2006 to 2008 and a further tax reduction to a rate of 7.5% from calendar year 2009 to 2011.
 
On April 21, 2010, the State Administration of Taxation issued Circular 157 Further Clarification on Implementation of Preferential EIT Rate during Transition Periods (“Circular 157”). Circular 157 seeks to provide additional guidance on the interaction of certain preferential tax rates under the transitional rules of the New EIT Law. Prior to Circular 157, the Group interpreted the law to mean that if an HNTE entity was in a tax holiday period, including “2-year exemption plus 3-year half rate”, “5-year exemption plus 5-year half rate” and other tax exemptions and reductions, where it was entitled to a 50% reduction in the tax rate and was also entitled to a 15% rate of tax due to HNTE status under the New EIT Law, then it was entitled to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Circular 157 appears to have the effect that such an entity is entitled to pay tax at either the lower of 15% or 50% of the standard PRC tax rate (i.e. currently 25%). Circular 157 was unclear as to whether its effect is retrospective but Xueersi Education understands that the State Administration of Taxation has recently taken the position that the Circular applies only to tax years commencing from January 1, 2010.
 
Based on the interpretation of Circular 157 from the relevant local tax district, Xueersi Education believes that entities that qualify for “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” tax holiday as HNTEs and which are registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology industrial Zones of Beijing, will continue to pay tax at the rate of 7.5%. Since Xueersi Education enjoys “3-year exemption plus 3-year half rate” and is a HNTE status registered in the Zhongguancun High and New Technology industrial Zones of Beijing, Xueersi Education does not believe that Circular 157 has any effect on its tax position.
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
In calculating deferred tax assets and liabilities, the Group assumed Xueersi Education will continue to renew the new HNTE status at the conclusion of the initial three-year period. If Xueersi Education failed to obtain such renewals, then the deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2010 would increase by $23,165.
 
TAL Beijing was qualified as “Newly Established Software Enterprise” and therefore it was entitled to a two-year exemption from EIT from calendar year 2009 to 2010 and a further tax reduction to a rate of 12.5% from calendar year 2011 to 2013.
 
Provision (credit) for income tax consisted of the following:

 	 	Six-Month
	 	 	Six-Month
	 	
 	 	Periods ended
	 	 	Periods ended
	 	
 	 	August 31,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current —
PRC income tax expenses	 	$	1,281,475	 	 	$	1,973,863	 	
Deferred —
PRC income tax benefits	 	 	(369,207	)	 	 	(303,330	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	912,268	 	 	$	1,670,533	 	

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Group’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current deferred tax assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Undistributed payroll	 	$	903,939	 	 	$	1,299,540	 	
Less: valuation allowance	 	 	(72,642	)	 	 	(73,071	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current deferred tax assets, net	 	 	831,297	 	 	 	1,226,469	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment	 	 	134,915	 	 	 	196,579	 	
Intangible assets	 	 	163,003	 	 	 	162,914	 	
Tax losses carry-forward deferred tax assets	 	 	303,909	 	 	 	587,294	 	
Less: valuation allowance	 	 	(317,859	)	 	 	(778,798	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax assets, net	 	 	283,968	 	 	 	167,989	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets	 	 	147,433	 	 	 	120,127	 	
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	 	 	28,177	 	 	 	26,557	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Non-current deferred tax liabilities	 	$	175,610	 	 	$	146,684	 	

As of August 31, 2010, tax loss carry-forward amounted to $2,429,825 and would expire through the calendar year 2016. The Group operates its business through its subsidiaries, its VIEs and their subsidiaries. The Group does not file combined or consolidated tax returns, therefore, losses from individual subsidiaries or the VIEs and their subsidiaries may not be used to offset other subsidiaries’ or VIEs’ earnings within the
F-53

Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
Group. Valuation allowance is considered on each individual subsidiary and VIE basis. A valuation allowance of $851,869 had been established as of August 31, 2010, in respect of certain deferred tax assets as it is considered more likely than not that the relevant deferred tax assets will not be realized in the foreseeable future.
 
Under US GAAP, a deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting amounts over tax basis amounts, including those differences attributable to a more than 50% interest in a domestic subsidiary. However, recognition is not required in situations where the tax law provides a means by which the reported amount of that investment can be recovered tax-free and the enterprise expects that it will ultimately use that means. The Company has not recorded any such deferred tax liability attributable to the undistributed earnings of its financial interest in VIEs because it believes such excess earnings can be distributed in a manner that would not be subject to income tax.
 
The Group has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in financial statements. The Group has made its assessment of the level of tax authority for each tax position (including the potential application of interest and penalties) based on the technical merits, and has measured the unrecognized tax benefits associated with the tax positions. The Group has no material unrecognized tax benefits which would favourably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods. The Group classifies interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of August 31, 2010, there was no interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Group does not anticipate any significant increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.
 
New EIT Law includes a provision specifying that legal entities organized outside of the PRC will be considered residents for Chinese Income tax purposes if the place of effective management or control is within the PRC. The implementation rules to the New EIT Law provide that non-resident legal entities will be considered PRC residents if substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc, occurs within the PRC. Despite the present uncertainties resulting from the limited PRC tax guidance on the issue, the Group does not believe that the legal entities organized outside of the PRC within the Group should be treated as residents for EIT law purposes. If the PRC tax authorities subsequently determine that the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC should be deemed a resident enterprise, the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC will be subject to the PRC income tax at a rate of 25%.
 
If the Company were to be non-resident for PRC tax purpose, dividends paid to it out of profits earned after January 1, 2008 would be subject to a withholding tax. In the case of dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries, the withholding tax would be 10%.
 
Aggregate undistributed earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries located in the PRC that are available for distribution to the Company of approximately $32,694,990 as of August 31, 2010, are considered to be indefinitely reinvested and accordingly, no provision has been made for the Chinese dividend withholding taxes that would be payable upon the distribution of those amounts to the Company. The Chinese tax authorities have also clarified that distributions made out of pre January 1, 2008 retained earnings will not be subject to the withholding tax.
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Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)

10. 	Goodwill	
 
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended February 28, 2010 and six-month periods ended August 31, 2010 consisted of the following:

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Goodwill	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Beginning balance	 	$	762,272	 	 	$	763,802	 	
Foreign exchange difference due to translation	 	 	1,530	 	 	 	2,121	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Ending balance	 	$	763,802	 	 	$	765,923	 	

No impairment charges have been recorded for the six-month periods ended August 31, 2010.

11. 	Net Income Per Share	

 	 	Six-Month
	 	 	Six-Month
	 	
 	 	Periods ended
	 	 	Periods ended
	 	
 	 	August 31,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group	 	$	9,427,111	 	 	$	13,245,841	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Undistributed net income to TAL Education Group shareholders	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Numerator used in basic and diluted net income per share:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders allocated for computing net income per common share-basic	 	 	9,050,027	(i)	 	 	12,716,007	(i)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders allocated for computing net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares-basic	 	 	377,084	(i)	 	 	529,834	(i)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders allocated for computing net income per common share-diluted	 	 	9,427,111	 	 	 	13,245,841	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shares (denominator):	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income per common share — basic	 	 	120,000,000	 	 	 	120,000,000	 	
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares — basic	 	 	5,000,000	 	 	 	5,000,000	 	
Dilutive effect of nonvested share awards	 	 	—	 	 	 	193,360	(ii)	
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income per common share — diluted	 	 	125,000,000	 	 	 	125,193,360	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders-basic	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per Series A convertible redeemable preferred share-basic	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	
Net income per common share attributable to TAL Education Group shareholders-diluted	 	$	0.08	 	 	$	0.11	 	

 
 	 	 	
(i)	 	Undistributed net income was allocated between common shares and preferred shares prorated on the dividend participation rights. Since each Series A convertible redeemable preferred share has the same participating right as each common share, the allocation was based on the numbers of common shares and Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares.	
 	 	 	
(ii)	 	The Group has nonvested shares outstanding which could diluted basic net income per share in the future.	

F-55

Table of Contents
 
TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)

 	 	
12. 	Commitments and Contingencies	
 
Lease commitment
 
The Group leases certain office premises under non-cancellable leases, the term of which are ten years or less and are renewable upon negotiation. Rental expenses under operating leases for the six-month periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010 were $3,881,347 and $7,168,452, respectively.
 
Future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of August 31, 2010 were as follows:

Six-month periods ending February 28, 2011	 	$	7,590,469	 	
Fiscal years ending	 	 	 	 	
February 2012	 	 	13,602,220	 	
February 2013	 	 	9,882,230	 	
February 2014	 	 	7,128,243	 	
February 2015 and after	 	 	4,071,011	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	42,274,173	 	

 	 	
13. 	Segment Information	
 
Segment information
 
The Group is mainly engaged in after-school tutoring in the PRC. The Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer who reviews financial information of separate operating segments based on US GAAP amounts when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. The business is now organized and monitored on the basis of geographic locations. The CODM now reviews results analyzed by service line and geographic location. This analysis is only presented at the revenue level with no allocation of direct or indirect costs. Consequently, the Group has determined that it has only one operating segment.
 
Geographic information
 
The Group primary operates in the PRC and all of the Group’s long-lived assets are located in the PRC.
 
Major customers
 
For the six-month periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, there was no customer who accounted for 10% or more of the Group’s revenues.
 
Components of revenues are presented in the following table:

 	 	Six-Month
	 	 	Six-Month
	 	
 	 	Periods Ended
	 	 	Periods Ended
	 	
 	 	August 31,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Educational programs and services	 	$	32,829,477	 	 	$	52,859,699	 	
Educational materials and others	 	 	153,528	 	 	 	162,338	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total revenues	 	$	32,983,005	 	 	$	53,022,037	 	

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TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)

14. 	Mainland China Contribution Plan	
 
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government-mandated defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. The PRC labor regulations require the Group to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries. Total contributions for such employee benefits were $545,309 and $1,615,374 for the six-month periods ended August 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

15. 	Related Party Transactions	
 
The Group had the following balances with related parties as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2010, respectively:
 
(a) Amount due to the founding shareholders-non-trading

 	 	As of
	 	 	As of
	 	
 	 	February 28,
	 	 	August 31,
	 	
 	 	2010	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Founding shareholders	 	$	108,204	(i)	 	$	100,571	(i)	

 	 	 	
 	i. 	The amount represents rental deposits and acquisition consideration paid by the founding shareholder on behalf of the Group.	
 
Amounts due to shareholders are non-interest bearing and unsecured with no fixed repayment terms. There was no right to offset the amounts due to and due from the same shareholders.

16. 	Share-Based Compensation	
 
Nonvested shares
 
2010 Share Incentive Plan
 
In June 2010, the Company adopted the 2010 Share Incentive Plan. The plan permits the grant of options to purchase the Class A common shares, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, dividend equivalent rights and other instruments as deemed appropriate by the administrator under the plan. The maximum aggregate number of Class A common shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under the stock incentive plan is 18,750,000 shares.
 
On July 26, 2010, the Group granted 5,419,500 nonvested shares under this share incentive plan to directors, executive officers and employees. The estimated fair value of the Class A common share on the grant date was $5 per share. The nonvested shares will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set out in the award agreement, which is (1) 100% of 945,100 nonvested shares at the first anniversary of the date of grant, or (2) 1/2 of 831,400 nonvested shares on each of the anniversaries since the date of grant, or (3) 1/4 of 3,643,000 nonvested shares on each of the anniversaries since the date of grant.
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TAL Education Group
 
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Six-Month Periods Ended August 31, 2009 and 2010
(In U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Share Related Data)
 
The total compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective vesting periods. The Group recorded a related compensation expense of $919,862 for the six months ended August 31, 2010.

 	 	Number of
	 	
 	 	nonvested
	 	
 	 	shares	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Outstanding as of March 1, 2010	 	 	—	 	
Granted	 	 	5,419,500	 	
Forfeited	 	 	—	 	
Vested	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Outstanding as of August 31, 2010	 	 	5,419,500	 	

As of August 31, 2010, the unrecognized compensation expense related to the nonvested share awards amounted to $18,296,424, which will be recognized over their respective requisite service periods up to 4 years.

17.  	Subsequent Events	
 
The Group has evaluated events subsequent to the balance sheet date of August 31, 2010 through September 29, 2010, the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.
 
On September 29, 2010, the Company adopted the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&AA). The share capital of the Company is US$1,000,000.00 divided into (i) 500,000,000 Class A common shares of par value US$0.001 each, (ii) 495,000,000 of Class B common shares of par value US$0.001 each, and (iii) 5,000,000 Series A preferred shares of par value US$0.001 each. All issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of September 28, 2010 are re-designated as Class B common shares. The outstanding preferred shares will be automatically converted into Class B common shares immediately prior to the closing of the initial public offering.
 
Holders of Class A common shares and Class B common shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A common share is entitled to one vote and each Class B common share is entitled to ten votes. Each Class B common share is convertible into one Class A common share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A common shares are not convertible into Class B common shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B common shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, such Class B common shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A common shares.
 
Upon adoption of the amended and restated M&AA, all shares and per share information presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been revised on a retroactive basis to reflect the re-designation of outstanding common shares as Class B common shares as if the amended and restated M&AA had been in place throughout the periods presented.
 
On September 29, 2010, the Group declared a $30.0 million cash dividend to the Group’s then existing shareholders conditional upon the completion of the initial public offering.
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TAL EDUCATION GROUP
 
12,000,000 American Depositary Shares
Representing
24,000,000 Class A Common Shares

Credit Suisse	Morgan Stanley	

Piper Jaffray	Oppenheimer & Co.	

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 6.	INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.	
 
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our post-offering articles of association provide for indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own dishonesty, willful default or fraud.
 
Pursuant to the indemnification agreements the form of which has been filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Registration Statement, we will agree to indemnify our directors and officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director or officer.
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.	RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.	
 
During the past three years, we have issued the following securities (including restricted shares and options to acquire our common shares, if any). We believe that each of the following issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act regarding sales by an issuer in offshore transactions.

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Underwriting
	
 	 	Date of Sale or
	 	Number of
	 	 	 	Discount and
	
Purchaser	 	Issuance	 	Securities	 	Consideration	 	Commission	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bangxin Zhang	 	January 24, 2008	 	565 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Yundong Cao	 	January 24, 2008	 	260 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Yachao Liu	 	January 24, 2008	 	100 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Yunfeng Bai	 	January 24, 2008	 	75 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Bangxin Zhang	 	January 22, 2009	 	67,799,435 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Yundong Cao	 	January 22, 2009	 	31,199,740 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Yachao Liu	 	January 22, 2009	 	11,999,900 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
Yunfeng Bai	 	January 22, 2009	 	8,999,925 common shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	
KTB/UCI China
Ventures II Limited	 	February 12, 2009	 	5,000,000 Series A preferred shares	 	$5,000,000	 	N/A	
Employees	 	July 26, 2010	 	5,419,500 restricted shares	 	Par Value	 	N/A	

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ITEM 8.	EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.	
 
(a)  Exhibits
 
See the Exhibit Index for a complete list of all exhibits filed as part of this registration, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.
 
The agreements included as exhibits to this registration statement contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) were not intended to be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) may apply contract standards of “materiality” that are different from “materiality” under the applicable securities laws; and (iii) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement.
 
We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, we are responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this registration statement not misleading.
 
(b)  Financial Statement Schedules
 
Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.

ITEM 9.	UNDERTAKINGS.	
 
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 	(1) 	For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.	
 	 	 	
 	(2) 	For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.	
 	 	 	
 	(3) 	For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it	

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 	 	is first used after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.	

 	(4) 	For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1993 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:	
 	 	 	
 	(i) 	Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;	
 	 	 	
 	(ii) 	Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;	
 	 	 	
 	(iii) 	The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and	
 	 	 	
 	(iv) 	Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.	

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on October 6, 2010.
 
TAL Education Group

 	By: 	/s/  Bangxin Zhang	

 	Name:     	Bangxin Zhang	
 	Title: 	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on October 6, 2010.

Signature	 	Title	

/s/  Bangxin Zhang

Bangxin Zhang	 	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)	
 	 	 	
*

Yundong Cao	 	Director and President	
 	 	 	
/s/  Joseph Kauffman

Joseph Kauffman	 	Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)	
 	 	 	 	 	
* By	 	/s/  Joseph Kauffman

Attorney-in-fact	 	 	

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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
 
Pursuant to the Securities Act, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of TAL Education Group, has signed this Registration Statement or amendment thereto in New York, on October 6, 2010.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative

 	By: 	/s/  Kate Ledyard	

 	Name:     	Kate Ledyard, on behalf of
Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc.	
 	Title: 	Manager	

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TAL EDUCATION GROUP

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
	 	 	
Number	 	Description of Document	
 	 	 	 	 	
 	1	.1	 	Form of Underwriting Agreement	
 	3	.1†	 	Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant as currently in effect	
 	3	.2	 	Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant as effective upon closing of this offering	
 	4	.1†	 	Form of Class A common share certificate	
 	4	.2	 	Form of American depositary receipt evidencing American depositary shares (included in Exhibit 4.3)	
 	4	.3	 	Form of Deposit Agreement between the Registrant and the depositary	
 	4	.4†	 	Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement among the Registrant, the Series A preferred holder, Tiger Global Five China Holdings and other parties thereto, dated August 12, 2009	
 	5	.1†	 	Form of Opinion of Maples and Calder, the Cayman Islands counsel to the Registrant, regarding the issue of shares being registered	
 	8	.1	 	Form of Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP regarding certain U.S. federal tax matters	
 	8	.2†	 	Form of Opinion of Maples and Calder regarding certain Cayman Islands tax matters (included in Exhibit 5.1)	
 	8	.3†	 	Form of Opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm regarding certain PRC law matters	
 	10	.1†	 	2010 Share Incentive Plan	
 	10	.2†	 	Share Purchase Agreement among the Registrant, the Series A preferred holder and other parties thereto, dated February 12, 2009	
 	10	.3†	 	Share Purchase Agreement among the Registrant, KTB China Optimum Fund, Tiger Global Five China Holdings and other parties thereto, dated August 12, 2009	
 	10	.4†	 	Assumption Agreement between the Registrant and KTB China Optimum Fund, dated September 4, 2009	
 	10	.5†	 	Form of Indemnification Agreement with the Registrant’s directors and officers	
 	10	.6†	 	Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and an Executive Officer of the Registrant	
 	10	.7†	 	English translation of Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement among TAL Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Xueersi Network Technology Co., Ltd., Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu, Yunfeng Bai, and other parties thereto, dated June 25, 2010	
 	10	.8†	 	English translation of Call Option Agreement among TAL Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Xueersi Network Technology Co., Ltd., Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai, dated February 12, 2009	
 	10	.9†	 	English translation of Equity Pledge Supplemental Agreement among TAL Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd., Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai, dated June 25, 2010	
 	10	.10†	 	English translation of Equity Pledge Supplemental Agreement among TAL Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing Xueersi Network Technology Ltd., Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai, dated June 25, 2010	
 	10	.11†	 	English translation of Powers of Attorney by Bangxin Zhang, Yundong Cao, Yachao Liu and Yunfeng Bai, dated August 12, 2009	
 	21	.1†	 	Subsidiaries of the Registrant	
 	23	.1	 	Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd.	
 	23	.2†	 	Form of Consent of Maples and Calder (included in Exhibit 5.1)	
 	23	.3†	 	Form of Consent of Tian Yuan Law Firm (included in Exhibit 8.3)	
 	23	.4†	 	Consent of iResearch Consulting Group	
 	23	.5†	 	Consent of American Appraisal China Limited	
 	23	.6†	 	Consent of Jane Jie Sun, an independent director appointee	

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Exhibit
	 	 	
Number	 	Description of Document	
 	 	 	 	 	
 	23	.7†	 	Consent of Wai Chau Lin, an independent director appointee	
 	24	.1†	 	Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)	
 	99	.1†	 	Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant	

 	 	 	
†	 	Filed previously.	

Exhibit 1.1
TAL EDUCATION GROUP
CLASS A COMMON SHARES, PAR VALUE US$0.001 PER SHARE
in the form of American Depositary Shares

 
 
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[•], 2010

 
[•], 2010
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010-3629
U.S.A.
and
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf
London, E14 4QA
United Kingdom
As representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule II hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     TAL Education Group, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ”) an aggregate of [ • ] American depositary shares (the “ ADSs ”), each representing [ • ] Class A common shares of the Company, par value US$0.001 per share (the “ Common Shares ”). Such ADSs being sold by the Company are hereafter referred to as the “ Firm ADSs ”.
     The Company also proposes to sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional [•] ADSs (the “ Additional ADSs ”), if and to the extent that you, as representatives of the Underwriters (the “ Representatives ”), shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such number of ADSs granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm ADSs and the Additional ADSs are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Offered ADSs .” The Common Shares represented by the Offered ADSs are hereafter referred to as the “ Offered Shares .” Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to the Firm ADSs, the Additional ADSs or Offered ADSs herein also includes the Offered Shares represented by such ADSs.
     The Offered ADSs are to be issued pursuant to a deposit agreement dated as of [•], 2010 (the “Deposit Agreement ”) among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as depositary (the “ Depositary ”) and the holders from time to time of the ADSs issued thereunder.
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to

 
the Offered Shares, and the Company and the Depositary have filed a registration statement relating to the Offered ADSs. The registration statement relating to the Offered Shares as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement ”; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Offered ADSs (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Prospectus .” The registration statement relating to the ADSs, as amended at the time it becomes effective, is hereafter referred to as the “ ADS Registration Statement .” If the Company has filed abbreviated registration statements to register additional Common Shares or ADSs pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “ Rule 462 Registration Statements ”), then any reference herein to the term “ Registration Statement ” or “ ADS Registration Statement ” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. The Company has filed, in accordance with Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), a registration statement on Form 8-A to register the Offered Shares and the Offered ADSs (the “ Form 8-A Registration Statement ”).
     For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “ Time of Sale Prospectus ” means the preliminary prospectus together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule II hereto, and “ broadly available road show ” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “ADS Registration Statement,” “Form 8-A Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein.
     Piper Jaffray & Co. (the “Designated Underwriter”) has agreed to reserve a portion of the Offered ADSs to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and business associates and other parties related to the Company (collectively, “ Participants ”), as set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriters” (the “ Directed Share Program ”). The Offered ADSs to be sold by the Designated Underwriter and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program are referred to hereinafter as the “ Directed ADSs .” Any Directed ADSs not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.
     1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
2

 
     (a) Each of the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Form 8-A Registration Statement has become effective as provided in Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
     (b) (i) Each of the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Offered ADSs in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, each broadly available road show or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
     (c) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and as of the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements
3

 
of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the prior consent of the Representatives, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus. The Company has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.
     (d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as an exempted company with limited liability in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities (as defined below), taken as a whole, or on the Company’s ability to carry out its obligations under this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement (“ Material Adverse Effect ”). All constitutive documents of the Company comply with the requirements of applicable Cayman Islands laws and are in full force and effect. The form of fourth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement comply with the requirements of applicable Cayman Islands laws and, once becoming effective on the Closing Date, will be in full force and effect. Complete and correct copies of all constitutive documents of the Company and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the Representatives; except as set forth in the exhibits to the Registration Statement, no change will be made to any such constitutive documents on or after the date of this Agreement through and including the Closing Date.
     (e) Each of (i) Xueersi International Education Group Limited, Yidu Huida Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., TAL Education Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Beijing Huanqiu Zhikang Shidai Education Consulting Co., Ltd. (each a “ Subsidiary ” and collectively called the “ Subsidiaries ”) and (ii) Beijing Xueersi Education Technology Co., Ltd. (including each of its subsidiaries and each school it operates) and Beijing Xueersi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (including each of its subsidiaries and each school it operates) (each an “ Affiliated Entity ”, collectively called the “ Affiliated Entities ” and together with the Subsidiaries, the “ Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities ”) has been duly organized, is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or
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its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no subsidiaries or controlled affiliates other than the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities. All constitutive documents of each of the Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities comply with the requirements of applicable laws of its jurisdiction of organization and are in full force and effect. All of the equity interests in each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly through subsidiaries by the Company free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; all of the equity interests in each Affiliated Entity of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly by the individuals as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (f) The description of the corporate structure of the Company and the contracts between the Subsidiaries and the shareholders of the Affiliated Entities, or between the Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities, as the case may be (each a “ Corporate Structure Contract ” and collectively the “ Corporate Structure Contracts ”), as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus under the captions “Our Corporate History and Structure” and “Related Party Transactions” and filed as Exhibits 10.7 through 10.11 to the Registration Statement, is true and accurate in all material respects and nothing has been omitted from such description which would make it misleading in any material respect. There is no other agreement, contract or other document relating to the corporate structure or the operation of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities which has not been previously disclosed or made available to the Underwriters and, to the extent material to the Company, disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (g) Each Corporate Structure Contract has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms. No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required for the performance of the obligations under any Corporate Structure Contract by the parties thereto, except for such that has been obtained or performed. There is no legal or governmental proceeding, inquiry or investigation pending against the Company, the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities or shareholders of the Affiliated Entities in any jurisdiction challenging the validity of any of the Corporate Structure Contracts and no such proceeding, inquiry or investigation is threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated in any jurisdiction.
     (h) The execution, delivery and performance of each Corporate Structure Contract by the parties thereto do not and will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or
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result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities pursuant to (A) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, (B) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities or any of their properties, or (C) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities is a party or by which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities is subject, except, in the case of (B) and (C), for such that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Corporate Structure Contract is in full force and effect and none of the parties thereto is in breach or default in the performance of any of the terms or provisions of such Corporate Structure Contract, except for any breach or default that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the parties to any of the Corporate Structure Contracts has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intention not to renew, any of the Corporate Structure Contracts, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge, is being contemplated by any of the parties thereto.
     (i) This Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
     (j) The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Depositary, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
     (k) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement will not contravene (A) any provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or (B) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, taken as a whole, or (C) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliated Entity, except, in the case of (C), for any contravention that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; except for such that have been obtained, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
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states of the United States in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered ADSs.
     (l) The authorized share capital of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
     (m) The share capital outstanding prior to the issuance of the Offered Shares represented by Offered ADSs to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. As of the date hereof, the Company has authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the sections of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Capitalization” and “Description of Share Capital” and, as of the Closing Date, the Company shall have authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the sections of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Capitalization” and “Description of Share Capital.”
     (n) The Offered Shares represented by the Offered ADSs to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefore in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, will have been issued in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Blue Sky laws, will be fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Offered Shares will not be subject to any preemptive rights, resale rights or rights of first refusal. The Offered Shares, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be free of any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof pursuant to the Company’s constitutive documents or any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party.
     (o) The Offered ADSs, when issued by the Depositary against the deposit of the Offered Shares in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the persons in whose names such ADSs are registered will be entitled to the rights of registered holders of ADSs specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement.
     (p) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Offered Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
     (q) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all
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material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
     (r) The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
     (s) The Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, in each case except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (t) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities is in breach or violation of any provision of applicable law or its respective constitutive documents, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entity, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, in each case, except for such breach, violation or default that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (u) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (v) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities is subject, other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Time of Sale
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Prospectus and proceedings that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; there are no legal or government proceedings that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
     (w) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities or affiliates, nor, to the Company’s best knowledge, any director, officer, or employee acting on the behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, nor, to the Company’s best knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities acting on the behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.
     (x) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities are and have been conducted in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
     (y) (i) The Company represents that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities (collectively, the “ Entity ”) or , to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Entity, is an individual or entity (“ Person ”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:
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     (A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”) , the United Nations Security Council (“ UNSC ”), the European Union (“ EU ”), Her Majesty’s Treasury (“ HMT ”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor
     (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
      (ii) The Company represents and covenants that the Entity will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
     (A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
     (B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
      (iii) The Company represents and covenants that, for the past five years the Entity has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
     (z) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered ADSs and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
     (aa) The Company does not expect to be a passive foreign investment company for United States federal income tax purposes for its current taxable year ending February 28, 2011 or for the foreseeable future.
     (bb) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, since the date of the most recent audited financial statements of the Company included in the Time of Sale Prospectus, (i) there has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, taken as a whole, and (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiary and Affiliated Entities has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire,
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explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (cc) Except as described in the Time of Sale prospectus or except such as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (dd) The Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (ee) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has full power, authority and legal right to enter into, execute, assume, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the contracts and agreements referred to or described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement to which it is a party (the “ Disclosed Contracts ”), and has authorized, executed and delivered each of the Disclosed Contracts, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, the Disclosed Contracts constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliated Entity, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof, subject, in each case as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the Disclosed Contracts, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities or, to the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, any other party to any such contract or agreement, except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
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     (ff) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities exists, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (gg) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliate Entities are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (hh) All tax returns required to be filed by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities have been timely filed except for those tax returns the failure to file which does not and would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and all taxes and other assessments of a similar nature (whether imposed directly or through withholding) including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto due or claimed to be due from such entities have been timely paid, other than those being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided or as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All local and national PRC governmental tax holidays, exemptions, waivers, financial subsidies, and other local and national PRC tax relief, concessions and preferential treatment enjoyed by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are valid, binding and enforceable and do not violate any laws, regulations, rules, orders, decrees, guidelines, judicial interpretations, notices or other legislation of the PRC.
     (ii) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, no Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.
     (jj) Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities is included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants as
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required by the Securities Act and by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
     (kk) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules thereto, present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of the Company for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are accurately and fairly presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company; there are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not included as required; the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), that are not described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; and all disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.
     (ll) The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus accurately and fully describes (i) accounting policies that the Company believes are the most important in the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, (ii) material judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of the foregoing critical accounting policies and (iii) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an explanation thereof. The Company’s directors and management have reviewed and agreed with the selection, application and disclosure of the Company’s critical accounting policies as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and have consulted with its independent accountants with regards to such disclosure.
     (mm) The Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly and accurately describe all material trends, demands, commitments, events, uncertainties and the potential effects thereof known to the Company, and that the
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Company believes would be materially affect its liquidity and are reasonably likely to occur.
     (nn) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
     (oo) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock; and (iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.
     (pp) There are no material relationships or transactions between the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities on one hand and their respective 10% or greater shareholders, affiliates, directors or officers or any affiliates or members of the immediate families of such persons, on the other hand, that are not disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (qq) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company has not sold, issued or distributed any Common Shares during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.
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     (rr) Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.
     (ss) The statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Description of Share Capital” and “Description of American Depositary Shares” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Offered Shares and the Offered ADSs, respectively, and under the headings “Risk Factors,” “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities,” “Regulation”, “Taxation” and “Underwriting” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate, complete and fair summaries of such matters described therein in all material respects.
     (tt) The ADSs have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), subject to official notice of issuance.
     (uu) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.
     (vv) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective directors, officers, affiliates or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or the Offered ADSs.
     (ww) The Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus and the ADS Registration Statement and the filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus and the ADS Registration Statement with the Commission have been duly authorized by and on behalf of the Company, and the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration Statement have been duly executed pursuant to such authorization by and on behalf of the Company.
     (xx) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, no transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or withholding taxes or duties are payable in the PRC, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands by or on behalf of the Underwriters to any PRC, Hong Kong or Cayman Islands taxing authority in connection with (i) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Shares by the Company, the issuance of the Offered ADSs by the Depositary, and the delivery of the Offered ADSs to or for the account of the Underwriters, (ii) the purchase from the Company of the Offered Shares and the initial sale and delivery
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of the Offered ADSs representing the Offered Shares to purchasers thereof by the Underwriters, (C) the deposit of the Offered Shares with the Depositary and the Custodian (as defined below) and the issuance and delivery of the Offered ADSs, or (D) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement.
     (yy) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities has taken all necessary steps to comply with, and to ensure compliance by all of the Company’s direct or indirect shareholders and option holders who are PRC residents with any applicable rules and regulations of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (the “ SAFE Rules and Regulations ”), including, without limitation, requiring each shareholder and option holder that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable SAFE Rules and Regulations.
     (zz) (i) The Company is aware of, and has been advised as to, the content of the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated on August 8, 2006 by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“ CSRC ”) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (the “ M&A Rules ”), in particular the relevant provisions thereof that purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles controlled directly or indirectly by PRC-incorporated companies or PRC residents and established for the purpose of obtaining a stock exchange listing outside of the PRC to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on any stock exchange located outside of the PRC. The Company has received legal advice specifically with respect to the M&A Rules from its PRC counsel and the Company understands such legal advice. In addition, the Company has communicated such legal advice in full to each of its directors that signed the Registration Statement and each such director has confirmed that he or she understands such legal advice.
     (aaa) The issuance and sale of the Offered Shares and the Offered ADSs, the listing and trading of the ADSs on NYSE and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Deposit Agreement, the Power of Attorney (as defined below) and the Custody Agreement (as defined below) are not and will not be, as of the date hereof and on the Closing Date, affected by the M&A Rules or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules, including the guidance and notices issued by the CSRC on September 8 and September 21, 2006 (together with the M&A Rules, the “ M&A Rules and Related Clarifications ”).
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     (bbb) The M&A Rules and Related Clarifications do not require the Company to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares or the Offered ADSs, the listing and trading of the ADSs on the NYSE, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Deposit Agreement, the Power of Attorney or the Custody Agreement.
     (ccc) The statements set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Any requirement to obtain prior approval from China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, could delay this offering and a failure to obtain this approval, if required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our ADSs,” when taken together with the statements under “Regulation—M&A Regulations and Overseas Listings,” are fair and accurate summaries of the matters described therein, and nothing has been omitted from such summaries that would make them misleading in any material respect.
     (ddd) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus comply, and any amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program.
     (eee) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in connection with the offering of the Directed ADSs in any jurisdiction where the Directed ADSs are being offered.
     (fff) The Company has not offered, or caused the Designated Underwriter to offer, Offered ADSs to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.
     (ggg) The choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC and will be honored by courts in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 16 of this Agreement and Section [ • ] of the Deposit Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each New York Court (as defined in Section 16), and the Company has the power to designate, appoint and authorize, and pursuant to Section 16 of this Agreement and Section [ • ] of the Deposit
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Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably designated, appointed and authorized, the Authorized Agent (as defined in Section 16 hereof) for service of process, in each case, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and service of process effected on such Authorized Agent will be effective to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company as provided in Section 16 hereof and Section [ • ] of the Deposit Agreement.
     (hhh) None of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities or any of their respective properties, assets or revenues has any right of immunity, under the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the PRC or the State of New York, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, the giving of any relief in any such legal action, suit or proceeding, set-off or counterclaim, the jurisdiction of any Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, PRC, New York or United States federal court, service of process, attachment upon or prior to judgment, or attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or execution of a judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of a judgment, in any such court, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement; and, to the extent that the Company, any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities or any of their respective properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to any such right of immunity in any such court in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, each of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities waives or will waive such right to the extent permitted by law and has consented to such relief and enforcement as provided in Section 16 of this Agreement and Section [ • ] of the Deposit Agreement.
     (iii) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, any final judgment for a fixed sum of money rendered by a New York Court having jurisdiction under its own domestic laws in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against the Company based upon this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement would be recognized and enforced by (A) Cayman Islands courts without re-examining the merits of the case under the common law doctrine of obligation; provided that (i) adequate service of process has been effected and the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard, (ii) such judgments or the enforcement thereof are not contrary to the law, public policy, security or sovereignty of the Cayman Islands, (iii) such judgments were not obtained by fraudulent means and do not conflict with any other valid judgment in the same matter between the same parties and (iv) an action between the same parties in the same matter is not pending in any Cayman Islands court at the time the lawsuit is instituted in the foreign court; and (B) PRC courts, subject to compliance with relevant civil procedural requirements under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. It is not necessary that this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other document be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong or the PRC.
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     2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company at US$[ • ] per ADS (the “ Purchase Price ”) the number of Firm ADSs (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the number of Firm ADSs to be sold by the Company as the number of Firm ADSs set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm ADSs.
     On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional ADSs, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [ • ] Additional ADSs at the Purchase Price. The Representatives may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional ADSs to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm ADSs nor later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional ADSs may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm ADSs. On each day, if any, that Additional ADSs are to be purchased (an “ Option Closing Date ”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional ADSs (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional ADSs as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm ADSs set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm ADSs.
     3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Representatives that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Offered ADSs as soon as practicable after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective. The Company is further advised by the Representatives that the Offered ADSs are to be offered to the public initially at US$[ • ] per ADS (the “ Public Offering Price ”) and to certain dealers selected by the Representatives at a price that represents a concession not in excess of US$[ • ] per ADS under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of US$[ • ] per ADS, to any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.
     The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
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sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares, ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or ADSs or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Shares or ADSs, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares, ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Common Shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or ADSs, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, pledge, sale or disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or file any such registration statement.
     The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to (a) the Offered Shares represented by ADSs to be sold hereunder, (b) the issuance by the Company of Common Shares upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the Underwriters have been advised in writing, or (c) the issuance of Common Shares or the grant of options to purchase Common Shares under any equity incentive plan.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day period, the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of an 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The Company shall promptly notify the Representatives of any earnings release, news or event that may give rise to an extension of the initial 180-day restricted period.
     4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm ADSs to be sold by the Company shall be made in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm ADSs for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at [ • ] a.m., New York City time, on [ • ], 2010, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than [ • ], 2010, as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date .”
     Payment for any Additional ADSs shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional ADSs for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at [ • ] a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in
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any event not later than [•], 2010, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives.
     The Firm ADSs and Additional ADSs shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm ADSs and Additional ADSs shall be delivered to the Representatives on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Offered ADSs to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
     5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the Offered ADSs to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered ADSs on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than [12:00pm] (New York City time) on the date hereof.
     The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered ADSs on the Closing Date are subject to the following further conditions:
     (a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
     (i) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus as of the date of this Agreement that, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Offered ADSs on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
     (b) Prior to and on the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act and the Company shall not have been informed of any proceedings for that purpose instituted or contemplated by the Commission.
     (c) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement and any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, and the Company shall have complied with all of the agreements, performed all of its obligations and satisfied all of the conditions hereunder on its part that are required to be complied with, performed or satisfied on or before the Closing Date.
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     (d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 5(a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
     The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
     (e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, United States counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
     (f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
     (g) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, PRC counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.
     (h) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of [•], Hong Kong counsel for Xueersi International Education Group Limited, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
     The opinions described in Sections 5(e) through 5(h) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company, and shall so state therein.
     (i) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, United States counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in the form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.
     (j) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Haiwen & Partners, PRC counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in the form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.
     (k) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Ziegler, Ziegler & Associates, counsel for the Depositary, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto.
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     (l) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus;  provided  that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.
     (m) The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, between the Representatives and all of the shareholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of Common Shares, ADSs or certain other securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
     (n) The Company and the Depositary shall have executed and delivered the Deposit Agreement, and the Deposit Agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date. The Company and the Depositary shall have taken all action necessary to permit the deposit of the Offered Shares and the issuance of the Offered ADSs representing such Offered Shares in accordance with the Deposit Agreement.
     (o) The Depositary shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Underwriters a certificate satisfactory to the Representatives of one of its authorized officers with respect to the deposit with it of the Offered Shares against issuance of the Offered ADSs, the execution, issuance, countersignature and delivery of the Offered ADSs pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and such other matters related thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.
     (p) The FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting, or other arrangements of the transactions, contemplated hereby.
     (q) The ADSs shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NYSE.
     The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional ADSs hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representatives on the applicable Option Closing Date of such documents as the Representatives may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional ADSs to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional ADSs.
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     6. Covenants of the Company.
     (a) The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
     (i) To file the Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Securities Act.
     (ii) To furnish to the Representatives, without charge, five signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(a)(vi) or 6(a)(vii) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.
     (iii) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
     (iv) To furnish to the Representatives a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representatives reasonably object.
     (v) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
     (vi) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Offered ADSs at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or
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supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon reasonable request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
     (vii) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Offered ADSs as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the “ Prospectus Delivery Period ”), any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which Offered ADSs may have been sold by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon reasonable request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
     (viii) To endeavor to qualify the Offered ADSs for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request.
     (ix) To advise the Representatives promptly and confirm such advice in writing, of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Form 8-A Registration Statement, any Time of Sale Prospectus, Prospectus or free writing prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto, or of notice of institution of proceedings
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for, or the entry of a stop order, suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement and, if the Commission should enter a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement, to use its best efforts to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as soon as possible.
     (x) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
     (xi) During the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, to file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; during the five-year period after the date of this Agreement, to furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to shareholders for such year; and to furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report of the Company filed with or furnished to the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to shareholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the Representatives may reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing or furnishing reports with the Commission on its EDGAR reporting system, it is not required to furnish such reports or statements filed or furnished through EDGAR to the Underwriters.
     (xii) To apply the net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Offered ADSs in the manner set forth under the heading “Use of Proceeds” in the Time of Sale Prospectus and to file such reports with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Offered ADSs and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act; not to invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Offered ADSs in such a manner (i) as would require the Company, any of the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and (ii) that would result in the Company being not in compliance with any applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC.
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     (xiii) Not to, and to cause the Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities not to, take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or the Offered ADSs.
     (xiv) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters against any documentary, stamp or similar issue tax, including any interest and penalties, on the creation, issuance and sale of the Offered ADSs to the Underwriters and on the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement. All payments to be made by the Company hereunder shall be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or governmental charges whatsoever unless the Company is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties or charges. In that event, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received after such withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts that would have been received if no withholding or deduction had been made.
     (xv) To comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed ADSs are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
     (xvi) In connection with the Directed Share Program, to ensure that the Directed ADSs will be restricted to the extent required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Representatives will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so restricted); and to direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time.
     (xvii) To pay all fees and disbursements of counsel (including non-U.S. counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.
     (xviii) To comply with the terms of the Deposit Agreement so that the Offered ADSs will be issued by the Depositary and delivered to each Underwriter’s participant account in DTC, pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date.
     (xix) (i) Not to attempt to avoid any judgment obtained by it or denied to it in a court of competent jurisdiction outside the Cayman
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Islands; (ii) following the consummation of the offering of the Offered ADSs, to use its best efforts to obtain and maintain all approvals required in the Cayman Islands to pay and remit outside the Cayman Islands all dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Common Shares; and (iii) to use its best efforts to obtain and maintain all approvals required in the Cayman Islands for the Company to acquire sufficient foreign exchange for the payment of dividends and all other relevant purposes.
     (xx) To comply with the SAFE Rules and Regulations, and to use its best efforts to cause its shareholders that are, or that are directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, Chinese residents or Chinese citizens, to comply with the SAFE Rules and Regulations applicable to them, including, without limitation, requesting each such shareholder to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable SAFE Rules and Regulations.
     7. Expenses. [The Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsels and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Offered Shares and Offered ADSs under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Form 8-A Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Offered ADSs to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky, Legal Investment memorandum or prospectus wrapper in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered ADSs under state securities laws or the laws of such jurisdiction as the Representatives may designate and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Offered ADSs for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(a)(viii) hereof, including filing fees in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Offered ADSs by the FINRA, (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Shares and all costs and expenses incident to listing the ADSs on the NYSE, (vi) all the costs and expenses of qualifying the Offered ADSs for inclusion in the book-entry settlement system of the Depositary Trust Company, (vii) the cost of printing certificates representing the ADRs or Offered Shares, (viii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or Depositary, (ix) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to
28

 
investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Offered ADSs, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (x) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, agreement among Underwriters, any dealer agreements, any Powers of Attorney, any Custody Agreements, any closing documents and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, issuance, sale, purchase and delivery of the Offered ADSs, and the reproduction and/or printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and (except closing documents) to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (xi) all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 9 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution”, Section 10 entitled “Directed Share Program Indemnification” and the last paragraph of Section 12 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Offered ADSs by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.]
     8. Representations and Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter severally represents to and covenants with the Company: (a) it will not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter; and (b) it is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Offered ADSs and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period.
     9. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and holds harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
29

 
such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
     (b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
     (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a) or 9(b), such person (the “ indemnified party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ indemnifying party ”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of
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such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such Section. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons and affiliates of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. In the case of any such separate firm for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
     (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9(a) or 9(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
31

 
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Offered ADSs or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Offered ADSs shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Offered ADSs (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Offered ADSs. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to the respective number of Offered ADSs they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
     (e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by  pro rata  allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 9(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Offered ADSs underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive
32

 
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
     (f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter, or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Offered ADSs.
     10. Directed Share Program Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of Designated Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“ Designated Underwriter Entities ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed ADSs that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of Designated Underwriter Entities.
     (b) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Designated Underwriter Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 10(a), the Designated Underwriter Entity seeing indemnity, shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company, upon request of the Designated Underwriter Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Designated Underwriter Entity to represent the Designated Underwriter Entity and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Designated Underwriter Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Designated Underwriter Entity unless (i) the Company shall have agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the Designated Underwriter Entity and
33

 
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Designated Underwriter Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Designated Underwriter Entities. Any such separate firm for the Designated Underwriter Entities shall be designated in writing by the Designated Underwriter. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to indemnify the Designated Underwriter Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time a Designated Underwriter Entity shall have requested the Company to reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Company agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed the Designated Underwriter Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Designated Underwriter, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Designated Underwriter Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Designated Underwriter Entity, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Designated Underwriter Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
     (c) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 10(a) is unavailable to a Designated Underwriter Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company in lieu of indemnifying the Designated Underwriter Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Designated Underwriter Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Designated Underwriter Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed ADSs or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 10(c)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 10(c)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Designated Underwriter Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Designated Underwriter Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed ADSs shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed ADSs (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions
34

 
received by the Designated Underwriter Entities for the Directed ADSs, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Directed ADSs. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Designated Underwriter Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Designated Underwriter Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
     (d) The Company and the Designated Underwriter Entities agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by  pro rata  allocation (even if the Designated Underwriter Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 10(c). The amount paid or payable by the Designated Underwriter Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Designated Underwriter Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Designated Underwriter Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed ADSs distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Designated Underwriter Entity has otherwise been required to pay. The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
     (e) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Designated Underwriter Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed ADSs.
     11. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or other relevant exchanges, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a
35

 
material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the PRC or other relevant jurisdiction shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by United States Federal, New York State, Cayman Islands, the PRC, Hong Kong or other relevant foreign country authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets, currency exchange rates or controls or any calamity or crisis that, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the reasonable judgment the Representatives, impracticable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Offered ADSs on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
     12. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
     If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered ADSs that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Offered ADSs which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Offered ADSs to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm ADSs set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm ADSs set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify, to purchase the Offered ADSs which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date;  provided  that in no event shall the number of Offered ADSs that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 12 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Offered ADSs without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm ADSs and the aggregate number of Firm ADSs with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm ADS to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Firm ADSs are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional ADSs and the aggregate number of Additional ADSs with respect to which such
36

 
default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional ADSs to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional ADSs that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
     If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
     13. Authority of the Representatives. Except as otherwise provided herein, any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
     14. Entire Agreement. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Offered ADSs, represents the entire agreement between the Company on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Offered ADSs.
     (b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Offered ADSs: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Offered ADSs.
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     15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
     16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
     17. Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York (each, a “ New York Court ”) in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the offering of the Offered ADSs or any transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the offering of the Offered ADSs or any transactions contemplated hereby in the New York Courts, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company irrevocably appoints Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc. as its authorized agent (the “ Authorized Agent ”) in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process in any manner permitted by applicable law upon such agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process in any manner permitted by applicable law upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement.
     18. Judgment Currency. The obligation of the Company pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any sum due to any Underwriter shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day, following receipt by such Underwriter of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, on which (and only to the extent that) such Underwriter may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency; if the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder, the Company agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Underwriter against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder, such Underwriter agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder.
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     19. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
     20. Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
     21. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to (i) Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3629, the United States of America, to the attention of Legal & Compliance Department and (ii) Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc at 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4QA, United Kingdom, to the attention of Head of Capital Markets; if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to 18/F, Hesheng Building, 32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China, to the attention of [Joseph Kauffman].
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 	 	 	 	 	 	Very truly yours,	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	TAL EDUCATION GROUP	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	By:	 	                                                            	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Name:	 	Bangxin Zhang	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Chairman and Chief
  Executive Officer	
SIGNATURE PAGE TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 
Accepted as of the date hereof
 
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
 
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and
     the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
 
By:  Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 	 	
By:  	_________________________________  	 	
 	Name:  	 	 	
 	Title:  	 	 	

By:  Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc

 	 	
By:  	_________________________________  	 	
 	Name:  	 	 	
 	Title:  	 	 	
 	
SIGNATURE PAGE TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 
SCHEDULE I
 	 	 	
 	 	Number of Firm ADSs	
Underwriter	 	To Be Purchased	
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC	 	[•]	
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc	 	[•]	
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.	 	[•]	
Piper Jaffray & Co.	 	[•]	
 	 	 	
Total:	 	[•]	
 	 	 	
Schedule I-1

 
SCHEDULE II
Time of Sale Prospectus
1.	 	Preliminary Prospectus issued on [•], 2010	
Schedule II-1

 
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER
____________________, 2010
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010-3629
U.S.A.
and
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf
London, E14 4QA
United Kingdom
As representatives of the several Underwriters
      named in the Underwriting Agreement
     The undersigned understands that you proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement ”) with TAL Education Group, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “ Company ”), providing for the initial public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) by the several Underwriters, including you (the “ Underwriters ”), of American depositary shares (the “ ADSs ”) representing common shares, par value US$0.001 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Shares ”).
     To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without your prior written consent on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “ Prospectus ”) (such period, the “ Restricted Period ”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares, ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or ADSs or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
F-1

 
ownership of the Common Shares or ADSs, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares, ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, pledge, sale or disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) transactions relating to Common Shares, ADSs or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Common Shares, ADSs or other securities acquired in such open market transactions, and (b) transfers of Common Shares or ADSs to a family member, any entity controlled by the family member, an affiliate of the undersigned or a trust may be made, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this agreement prior to such transfer and such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without your prior written consent on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Restricted Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Shares, ADSs or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or ADSs. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent, registrar and depositary against the transfer of the undersigned’s Common Shares or ADSs except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
     If:
     (1) during the last 17 days of the Restricted Period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or
     (2) prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Restricted Period;
the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or material news or the occurrence of the material event.
     The undersigned shall not engage in any transaction that may be restricted by this agreement during the 34-day period beginning on the last day of the initial Restricted Period unless the undersigned requests and receives prior written confirmation from the Company or you that the restrictions imposed by this agreement have expired.
F-2

 
     The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
     Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
 	 	 	 	 	
 	Very truly yours,

  (Name)

  (Address)

 	 	 	
F-3

Exhibit 3.2
THE COMPANIES LAW (2010 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
TAL EDUCATION GROUP
(Adopted by a Special Resolution passed on 29 September 2010 and effective conditional and
immediately upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of Class A Common
Shares represented by American Depository Shares)

 
THE COMPANIES LAW (2010 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
TAL EDUCATION GROUP
     (Adopted by a Special Resolution passed on 29 September 2010 and effective conditional and immediately upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of Class A Common Shares represented by American Depository Shares)
1.	 	The name of the Company is TAL Education Group.	
 	 	 	
2.	 	The Registered Office of the Company is situated at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other location within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine.	
 	 	 	
3.	 	The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Law or any other law of the Cayman Islands.	
 	 	 	
4.	 	The Company shall have and be capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit as provided by the Companies Law.	
 	 	 	
5.	 	The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands.	
 	 	 	
6.	 	The liability of each Shareholder of the Company is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the Shares held by such Shareholder.	
 	 	 	
7.	 	The authorised share capital of the Company is US$2,000,000 divided into (i) 500,000,000 Class A Common Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.001 each and (ii) 500,000,000 Class B Common Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.001 each and (iii) 1,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.001 each of such Class or Classes (howsoever designated) as the Board of Directors may determine in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the Articles of Association. Subject to the Companies Law and the Articles of Association, the Company shall have power to redeem or purchase any of its Shares and to sub-divide or consolidate the said Shares or any of them and to issue all or any part of its capital whether	

 
 	 	original, redeemed, increased or reduced with or without any preference, priority, special privilege or other rights or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions whatsoever and so that unless the conditions of issue shall otherwise expressly provide every issue of shares whether stated to be ordinary, preference or otherwise shall be subject to the powers on the part of the Company hereinbefore provided.	
 	 	 	
8.	 	The Company has the power to deregister in the Cayman Islands and be registered by way of continuation in some other jurisdiction.	
 	 	 	
9.	 	Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meanings as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company.	

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 	 	 	 	 	
CLAUSE	 	PAGE	 	
TABLE A	 	 	2	 	
INTERPRETATION	 	 	2	 	
PRELIMINARY	 	 	6	 	
SHARES	 	 	6	 	
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS	 	 	7	 	
CERTIFICATES	 	 	8	 	
FRACTIONAL SHARES	 	 	8	 	
LIEN	 	 	8	 	
CALLS ON SHARES	 	 	9	 	
FORFEITURE OF SHARES	 	 	10	 	
TRANSFER OF SHARES	 	 	10	 	
CONVERSION OF COMMON SHARES	 	 	11	 	
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES	 	 	12	 	
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL	 	 	12	 	
REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE OF SHARES	 	 	13	 	
GENERAL MEETINGS	 	 	14	 	
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS	 	 	15	 	
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS	 	 	15	 	
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS	 	 	16	 	
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS	 	 	18	 	
CLEARING HOUSES	 	 	18	 	
DIRECTORS	 	 	18	 	
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY	 	 	19	 	
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS	 	 	19	 	
BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS	 	 	21	 	
THE SEAL	 	 	21	 	
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS	 	 	21	 	
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS	 	 	22	 	
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT	 	 	24	 	
DIVIDENDS	 	 	24	 	
ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION	 	 	25	 	
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES	 	 	25	 	
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT	 	 	26	 	
NOTICES	 	 	27	 	
i

 
 	 	 	 	 	
INDEMNITY	 	 	28	 	
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS	 	 	29	 	
WINDING UP	 	 	29	 	
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION	 	 	29	 	
CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE	 	 	30	 	
REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION	 	 	30	 	
DISCLOSURE	 	 	30	 	
ii

 
THE COMPANIES LAW (2010 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
TAL EDUCATION GROUP
(Adopted by a Special Resolution passed on 29 September 2010 and effective conditional and
immediately upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of Class A Common Shares
represented by American Depository Shares)
TABLE A
 	 	The Regulations contained or incorporated in Table ‘A’ in the First Schedule of the Law shall not apply to the Company and the following Articles shall comprise the Articles of Association of the Company.	
INTERPRETATION
1.	 	In these Articles the following defined terms will have the meanings ascribed to them, if not inconsistent with the subject or context:	

“ADS”	 	means an American depositary share representing Class A Common Shares;	
 	 	 	
“Affiliate”	 	means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, including without limitation, any partners, officer, director, member or employee of such Person and any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person;	
 	 	 	
“Articles” or “ Articles of Association ”	 	means these articles of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time;	
2

 
 	 	 	
“Board” or “ Board of Directors ” or “ Directors ”	 	means the directors of the Company for the time being, or as the case may be, the directors assembled as a board or as a committee thereof;	
 	 	 	
“Chairman”	 	means the chairman of the Board of Directors;	
 	 	 	
“Class” or “ Classes ”	 	means any class or classes of Shares as may from time to time be issued by the Company;	
 	 	 	
“Class A Common Share ”	 	means a Class A Common Share in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.001 per share.	
 	 	 	
“Class B Common Share ”	 	means a Class B Common Share in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.001 per share.	
 	 	 	
“Commission”	 	means Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or any other federal agency for the time being administering the Securities Act;	
 	 	 	
“Common Share ”	 	means a Class A Common Share or a Class B Common Share;	
 	 	 	
“Company”	 	means TAL Education Group, a Cayman Islands exempted company;	
 	 	 	
“Companies Law ”	 	means the Companies Law (2010 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof;	
 	 	 	
“Company’s Website ”	 	means the website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been notified to Shareholders;	
 	 	 	
“Designated Stock Exchange ”	 	means The New York Stock Exchange in the United States or any other stock exchange that the Company’s ADSs are listed for trading;	
 	 	 	
“Designated Stock Exchange Rules ”	 	means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any shares or ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchange;	
 	 	 	
“electronic”	 	means the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Law and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor;	
 	 	 	
“electronic communication ”	 	means electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by not less than two-thirds of the vote of the Board;	
3

 
 	 	 	
“Electronic Transactions Law ”	 	means the Electronic Transactions Law (2003 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof;	
 	 	 	
“Independent Director ”	 	means a director who is an independent director as defined in the Designated Stock Exchange Rules;	
 	 	 	
“Law”	 	means the Companies Law and every other law and regulation of the Cayman Islands for the time being in force concerning companies and affecting the Company;	
 	 	 	
“Memorandum of Association ”	 	means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time;	
 	 	 	
“Month”	 	means calendar month;	
 	 	 	
“Ordinary Resolution ”	 	means a resolution:	

(a)	 	passed by a simple majority of such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company and where a poll is taken regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each Shareholder is entitled; or	
 	 	 	
(b)	 	approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument, or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed;	

“paid up ”	 	means paid up as to the par value in respect of the issue of any Shares and includes credited as paid up;	
 	 	 	
“Person”	 	means any natural person, firm, company, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association or other entity (whether or not having a separate legal personality) or any of them as the context so requires;	
 	 	 	
“Register”	 	means the register of Members of the Company maintained in accordance with the Companies Law;	
 	 	 	
“Registered Office ”	 	means the registered office of the Company as required by the Companies Law;	
 	 	 	
“Seal”	 	means the common seal of the Company (if adopted) including any facsimile thereof;	
 	 	 	
“Secretary”	 	means any Person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company;	
4

 
 	 	 	
“Securities Act ”	 	means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time;	
 	 	 	
“Share”	 	means a share in the capital of the Company. All references to “Shares” herein shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt in these Articles the expression “Share” shall include a fraction of a Share;	
 	 	 	
“Shareholder” or “ Member ”	 	means a Person who is registered as the holder of Shares in the Register;	
 	 	 	
“Share Premium Account ”	 	means the share premium account established in accordance with these Articles and the Companies Law;	
 	 	 	
“signed”	 	means bearing a signature or representation of a signature affixed by mechanical means or an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic communication;	
 	 	 	
“Special Resolution ”	 	means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Law, being a resolution:	

(a)	 	passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given and where a poll is taken regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each Shareholder is entitled; or	
 	 	 	
(b)	 	approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the special resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed;	

“United States ”	 	means the United States of America, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction; and	
 	 	 	
“year”	 	means calendar year.	

2.	 	In these Articles, save where the context requires otherwise:	

 	(a)	 	words importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa;	
5

 
 	(b)	 	words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender and any Person as the context may require;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(c)	 	the word “may” shall be construed as permissive and the word “shall” shall be construed as imperative;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(d)	 	reference to a dollar or dollars (or US$) and to a cent or cents is reference to dollars and cents of the United States of America;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(e)	 	reference to a statutory enactment shall include reference to any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(f)	 	reference to any determination by the Directors shall be construed as a determination by the Directors in their sole and absolute discretion and shall be applicable either generally or in any particular case;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(g)	 	reference to “in writing” shall be construed as written or represented by any means reproducible in writing, including any form of print, lithograph, email, facsimile, photograph or telex or represented by any other substitute or format for storage or transmission for writing or partly one and partly another; and	
 	 	 	 	
 	(h)	 	Section 8 of the Electronic Transactions Law shall not apply.	

3.	 	Subject to the last two preceding Articles, any words defined in the Companies Law shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meaning in these Articles.	
PRELIMINARY
4.	 	The business of the Company may be conducted as the Directors see fit.	

5.	 	The Registered Office shall be at such address in the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Company may in addition establish and maintain such other offices and places of business and agencies in such places as the Directors may from time to time determine.	

6.	 	The expenses incurred in the formation of the Company and in connection with the offer for subscription and issue of Shares shall be paid by the Company. Such expenses may be amortised over such period as the Directors may determine and the amount so paid shall be charged against income and/or capital in the accounts of the Company as the Directors shall determine.	

7.	 	The Directors shall keep, or cause to be kept, the Register at such place as the Directors may from time to time determine and, in the absence of any such determination, the Register shall be kept at the Registered Office.	
SHARES
8.	 	Subject to these Articles, all Shares for the time being unissued shall be under the control of the Directors who may:	

 	 	(a)	 	issue, allot and dispose of the same to such Persons, in such manner, on such terms and having such rights and being subject to such restrictions as they may from time to time determine; and	
6

 
 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	(b)	 	grant options with respect to such Shares and issue warrants or similar instruments with respect thereto;	

 	 	and, for such purposes, the Directors may reserve an appropriate number of Shares for the time being unissued.	
 	 	 	
9.	 	The Directors may authorise the division of Shares into any number of Classes and the different Classes shall be authorised, established and designated (or re-designated as the case may be) and the variations in the relative rights (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and redemption rights), restrictions, preferences, privileges and payment obligations as between the different Classes (if any) may be fixed and determined by the Directors or by a Special Resolution. The Directors may issue Shares with such preferred or other rights, all or any of which may be greater than the rights of Common Shares, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate.	
 	 	 	
10.	 	The Company may insofar as may be permitted by law, pay a commission to any Person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the lodgement of fully or partly paid-up Shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also pay such brokerage as may be lawful on any issue of Shares.	
 	 	 	
11.	 	The Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.	
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
12.	 	Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different Classes the rights attached to any such Class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any Class, only be materially adversely varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that Class or with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that Class. To every such separate meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings thereat shall,  mutatis mutandis , apply, except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons at least holding or representing by proxy one-third in nominal or par value amount of the issued Shares of the relevant Class (but so that if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as above defined is not present, those Shareholders who are present shall form a quorum) and that, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, every Shareholder of the Class shall on a poll have one vote for each Share of the Class held by him. For the purposes of this Article the Directors may treat all the Classes or any two or more Classes as forming one Class if they consider that all such Classes would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration ,  but in any other case shall treat them as separate Classes.	

13.	 	The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any Class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied or abrogated by,  inter alia , the creation, allotment or issue of further Shares ranking  pari passu  with or in priority or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any Shares of any Class by the Company. The rights of the holders of Shares shall not be deemed to be materially adversely varied or abrogated by the creation or issue of Shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of Shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.	
7

 
CERTIFICATES
14.	 	Every Person whose name is entered as a member in the Register shall, without payment, be entitled to a certificate within two months after allotment or lodgement of transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide) in the form determined by the Directors. All certificates shall specify the Share or Shares held by that person and the amount paid up thereon, provided that in respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. All certificates for Shares shall be delivered personally or sent through the post addressed to the member entitled thereto at the Member’s registered address as appearing in the Register.	

15.	 	Every share certificate of the Company shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the Securities Act.	

16.	 	Any two or more certificates representing Shares of any one Class held by any Member may at the Member’s request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such Shares issued in lieu on payment (if the Directors shall so require) of US$1.00 or such smaller sum as the Directors shall determine.	

17.	 	If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same Shares may be issued to the relevant Member upon request subject to delivery up of the old certificate or (if alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed) compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit.	

18.	 	In the event that Shares are held jointly by several persons, any request may be made by any one of the joint holders and if so made shall be binding on all of the joint holders.	
FRACTIONAL SHARES
19.	 	The Directors may issue fractions of a Share and, if so issued, a fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to nominal or par value, premium, contributions, calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, voting and participation rights) and other attributes of a whole Share. If more than one fraction of a Share of the same Class is issued to or acquired by the same Shareholder such fractions shall be accumulated.	
LIEN
20.	 	The Company has a first and paramount lien on every Share (whether or not fully paid) for all amounts (whether presently payable or not) payable at a fixed time or called in respect of that Share. The Company also has a first and paramount lien on every Share registered in the name of a Person indebted or under liability to the Company (whether he is the sole registered holder of a Share or one of two or more joint holders) for all amounts owing by him or his estate to the Company (whether or not presently payable). The Directors may at any time declare a Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The Company’s lien on a Share extends to any amount payable in respect of it.	

21.	 	The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors in their absolute discretion think fit, any Share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless an amount in	
8

 

 	 	respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen days after a notice in writing, demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the Share, or the Persons entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy.	
 	 	 	
22.	 	For giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise some Person to transfer the Shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale.	
 	 	 	
23.	 	The proceeds of the sale after deduction of expenses, fees and commission incurred by the Company shall be received by the Company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, and the residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares prior to the sale) be paid to the Person entitled to the Shares immediately prior to the sale.	
CALLS ON SHARES
24.	 	Subject to the terms of the allotment, the Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares by giving notice to such Shareholders at least fourteen days prior to the specified time of payment, and each Shareholder shall pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on such Shares.	

25.	 	The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay calls in respect thereof.	

26.	 	If a sum called in respect of a Share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest upon the sum at the rate of eight percent per annum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual payment, but the Directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of that interest wholly or in part.	

27.	 	The provisions of these Articles as to the liability of joint holders and as to payment of interest shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.	

28.	 	The Directors may make arrangements on the issue of partly paid Shares for a difference between the Shareholders, or the particular Shares, in the amount of calls to be paid and in the times of payment.	

29.	 	The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any partly paid Shares held by him, and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate (not exceeding without the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, eight percent per annum) as may be agreed upon between the Shareholder paying the sum in advance and the Directors.	
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FORFEITURE OF SHARES
30.	 	If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment of a call in respect of partly paid Shares on the day appointed for payment, the Directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued.	
 	 	 	
31.	 	The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.	
 	 	 	
32.	 	If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect.	
 	 	 	
33.	 	A forfeited Share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit.	
 	 	 	
34.	 	A Person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited Shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares forfeited, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company receives payment in full of the amount unpaid on the Shares forfeited.	
 	 	 	
35.	 	A certificate in writing under the hand of a Director of the Company that a Share has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the certificate, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts in the declaration as against all Persons claiming to be entitled to the Share.	
 	 	 	
36.	 	The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for a Share on any sale or disposition thereof pursuant to the provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the Person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of and that Person shall be registered as the holder of the Share, and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the disposition or sale.	
 	 	 	
37.	 	The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share becomes due and payable, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.	
TRANSFER OF SHARES
38.	 	The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or partly paid up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make	
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 	 	the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Shareholder until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of the relevant Shares.	

39.	 	(a)	 	The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not fully paid up or on which the Company has a lien.	
 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	(b)	 	The Directors may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer of any Share unless:	

 	i.	 	the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;	
 	 	 	 	
 	ii.	 	the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one Class of Shares;	
 	 	 	 	
 	iii.	 	the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;	
 	 	 	 	
 	iv.	 	in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four;	
 	 	 	 	
 	v.	 	the Shares transferred are free of any lien in favour of the Company; and	
 	 	 	 	
 	vi.	 	a fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board of Directors may from time to time require, is paid to the Company in respect thereof.	

40.	 	The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the Register closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the Register of Members closed for more than 30 days in any year.	
 	 	 	
41.	 	All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of the refusal.	
CONVERSION OF COMMON SHARES
42.	 	Each Class B Common Share is convertible into one (1) Class A Common Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Common Shares are not convertible into Class B Common Shares under any circumstances. Conversions of Class B Common Shares to Class A Common Shares shall be effected by way of the re-designation of such Class B Common Shares into an equal number of Class A Common Shares.	
 	 	 	
 	 	If at any time any of the Persons who hold our Class B Common Shares immediately prior to the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of Class A Common Shares represented by ADSs and their respective Affiliates collectively own less than 5% of the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B Common Shares of the Company, each issued and outstanding Class B Common Shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A Common Share, and no Class B Common Shares shall be issued by the Company thereafter.	
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 	 	Subject to the Companies Law and notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles, upon any transfer of Class B Common Shares by a holder thereof to any Person which is not an Affiliate of such holder, such Class B Common Shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A Common Shares.	
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
43.	 	The legal personal representative of a deceased sole holder of a Share shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. In the case of a Share registered in the name of two or more holders, the survivors or survivor, or the legal personal representatives of the deceased survivor, shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share.	

44.	 	Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, have the right either to be registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the Share as the deceased or bankrupt Person could have made; but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the deceased or bankrupt Person before the death or bankruptcy.	

45.	 	A Person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered Shareholder, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company, provided however, that the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the Share, and if the notice is not complied with within ninety days, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.	
REGISTRATION OF EMPOWERING INSTRUMENTS
46.	 	The Company shall be entitled to charge a fee not exceeding one dollar (US$1.00) on the registration of every probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, notice in lieu of distringas, or other instrument.	
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
47.	 	The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into Shares of such Classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe.	

48.	 	The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:	

 	(a)	 	consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of a larger amount than its existing Shares;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(b)	 	convert all or any of its paid up Shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up Shares of any denomination;	
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 	(c)	 	subdivide its existing Shares, or any of them into Shares of a smaller amount provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and	

 	(d)	 	cancel any Shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any Person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled.	

49.	 	The Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorised by law.	
REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE OF SHARES
50.	 	Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and these Articles, the Company may:	

 	(a)	 	issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Shareholder or the Company. The redemption of Shares shall be effected in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such Shares, by either the Board or by the Shareholders by Special Resolution;	

 	(b)	 	purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) provided that the Shareholders shall have approved the manner of purchase by Ordinary Resolution or the manner of purchase is in accordance with the following Articles (this authorisation is in accordance with section 37(2) of the Companies Law); and	

 	(c)	 	the Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Companies Law, including out of capital.	

51.	 	Purchase of Shares represented by ADSs listed on the Designated Stock Exchange	
 	 	 	
 	 	The Company is authorised to purchase any Shares which are represented by ADSs listed on the Designated Stock Exchange in accordance with the following manner of purchase:	

 	(a)	 	in the event that the Company purchases any ADSs, it shall also purchase the Shares underlying such ADS in accordance with this Article;	

 	(b)	 	the purchase price shall be paid by the Company to the depositary, to be paid by the depositary to the seller of the relevant ADSs (and such monies shall be held on trust by the depositary for the account of such seller until they have been paid to such seller), or may, by agreement between the depositary and the Company, be paid directly by the Company to such seller;	

 	(c)	 	the maximum number of Shares that may be repurchased shall be equal to the number of issued and outstanding Shares less one Share; and	

 	(d)	 	the repurchase of the ADSs and the underlying Shares shall be at such time; at such price and on such other terms as determined and agreed by the Board in their sole discretion provided however that:	

 	(i)	 	such repurchase transactions shall be in accordance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and any other relevant codes, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchange; and	
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 	(ii)	 	at the time of the repurchase, the Company is able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of its business.	

52.	 	Purchase of shares not represented by ADSs	
 	 	 	
 	 	The Company is authorised to purchase any Shares not underlying ADSs in accordance with the following manner of purchase:	

 	(a)	 	the Company shall serve a repurchase notice in a form approved by the Board on the Shareholder from whom the Shares are to be repurchased at least two business days prior to the date specified in the notice as being the repurchase date;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(b)	 	the price for the Shares being repurchased shall be such price agreed between the Board and the applicable Shareholder;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(c)	 	the date of repurchase shall be the date specified in the repurchase notice; and	
 	 	 	 	
 	(d)	 	the repurchase shall be on such other terms as specified in the repurchase notice as determined and agreed by the Board and the applicable Shareholder in their sole discretion.	

53.	 	The purchase of any Share shall not oblige the Company to purchase any other Share other than as may be required pursuant to applicable law and any other contractual obligations of the Company.	

54.	 	The holder of the Shares being purchased shall be bound to deliver up to the Company the certificate(s) (if any) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him the purchase or redemption monies or consideration in respect thereof.	
GENERAL MEETINGS
55.	 	All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.	

56.	 	(a) The Company may in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Directors.	

 	(b)	 	At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented.	

57.	 	(a) The Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Shareholders’ requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company.	

 	(b)	 	A Shareholders’ requisition is a requisition of Shareholders holding at the date of deposit of the requisition in aggregate not less than one-third of such of the issued Shares of the Company as at that date of the deposit carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company.	

 	(c)	 	The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists.	
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 	(d)	 	If the Directors do not within 21 days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further 21 days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three months after the expiration of the said 21 days.	

 	(e)	 	A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors.	
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
58.	 	At least ten days’ notice shall be given for any general meeting. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:	

 	(a)	 	in the case of an annual general meeting by all the Shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and	

 	(b)	 	in the case of an extraordinary general meeting by a majority in number of the Shareholders (or their proxies) having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety five per cent in par value of the Shares giving that right.	

59.	 	The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any Shareholder shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting.	
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
60.	 	No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Shareholders is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. The quorum required for a general meeting of Shareholders consists of at least one Shareholder, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, holding in aggregate not less than one-tenth of the voting power of the Shares in issue carrying a right to vote at such meeting.	

61.	 	If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting the Shareholder or Shareholders present and entitled to vote shall form a quorum.	

62.	 	If the Directors wish to make this facility available for a specific general meeting or all general meetings of the Company, participation in any general meeting of the Company may be by means of a telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting.	
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63.	 	The chairman, if any, of the Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company.	
 	 	 	
64.	 	If there is no such chairman, or if at any general meeting he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman, any Director or Person nominated by the Directors shall preside as chairman, failing which the Shareholders present in person or by proxy shall choose any Person present to be chairman of that meeting.	
 	 	 	
65.	 	The chairman may with the consent of any general meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn a meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting, or adjourned meeting, is adjourned for fourteen days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.	
 	 	 	
66.	 	The Directors may cancel or postpone any duly convened general meeting at any time prior to such meeting, except for general meetings requisitioned by the Shareholders in accordance with these Articles, for any reason or for no reason, upon notice in writing to Shareholders. A postponement may be for a stated period of any length or indefinitely as the Directors may determine.	
 	 	 	
67.	 	At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman or any Shareholder holding at least one-tenth of the voting power of the Shares given a right to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, and unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book of the proceedings of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution.	
 	 	 	
68.	 	If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.	
 	 	 	
69.	 	In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.	
 	 	 	
70.	 	A poll demanded on the election of a chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the meeting directs.	
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
71.	 	Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, on a show of hands every Shareholder present in person and every Person representing a Shareholder by proxy shall, at a general meeting of the Company, each have one vote and on a poll (i) every holder of Class A Common Shares and every Person representing a holder of Class A Common Shares by proxy shall have one vote for each Class A Common Share of which	
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 	 	such Person or the Person represented by proxy is the holder, and (ii) every holder of Class B Common Shares and every Person representing a holder of Class B Common Shares by proxy shall have ten (10) votes for each Class B Common Share of which such Person or the Person represented by proxy is the holder.	

72.	 	In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote whether in person or by proxy shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register.	
 	 	 	
73.	 	A Shareholder of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, or other Person in the nature of a committee appointed by that court, and any such committee or other Person, may vote in respect of such Shares by proxy.	
 	 	 	
74.	 	No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Company unless all calls, if any, or other sums presently payable by him in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him have been paid.	
 	 	 	
75.	 	On a poll, votes may be given either personally or by proxy.	
 	 	 	
76.	 	The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under Seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy need not be a Shareholder.	
 	 	 	
77.	 	An instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve.	
 	 	 	
78.	 	The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company:	

 	(a)	 	not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote; or	

 	(b)	 	in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded, be deposited as aforesaid after the poll has been demanded and not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; or	

 	(c)	 	where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than 48 hours after it was demanded be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman or to the secretary or to any director;	

 	 	provided that the Directors may in the notice convening the meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, direct that the instrument appointing a proxy may be deposited (no later than the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting) at the registered office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company. The Chairman may in any event at his discretion direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted shall be invalid.	
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79.	 	The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll.	

80.	 	A resolution in writing signed by all the Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company (or being corporations by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.	
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS
81.	 	Any corporation which is a Shareholder or a Director may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any meeting of holders of a Class or of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, and the Person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder or Director.	
CLEARING HOUSES
82.	 	If a clearing house (or its nominee) is a Member of the Company it may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body or by power of attorney, authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative or representatives at any general meeting of the Company or at any general meeting of any class of Members of the Company provided that, if more than one person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such person is so authorised. A person so authorised pursuant to this Article shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee) which he represents as that clearing house (or its nominee) could exercise if it were an individual Member holding the number and Class of Shares specified in such authorisation.	
DIRECTORS
83.	 	(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Company in general meeting, the number of Directors shall not be less than two Directors, the exact number of Directors to be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. For so long as Shares or ADSs are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall include such number of Independent Directors as applicable law, rules or regulations or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules require.	

 	(b)	 	The Board of Directors shall have a Chairman elected and appointed by a majority of the Directors then in office. The period for which the Chairman will hold office will also be determined by a majority of all of the Directors then in office. The Chairman shall preside as chairman at every meeting of the Board of Directors. To the extent the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the attending Directors may choose one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting.	

 	(c)	 	The Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director.	

 	(d)	 	The Board may appoint any person as a Director, to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or as an addition to the existing Board, subject to the Company’s compliance with director nomination procedures required under the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, as long as Shares or ADSs are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange.	
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84.	 	A Director shall hold office until he is removed from office by Ordinary Resolution notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement).	

85.	 	The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the listing rules of the recognized stock exchange where the Company’s securities are traded, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives, which shall be intended to set forth the policies of the Company and the Board on various corporate governance related matters as the Board shall determine by resolution from time to time.	

86.	 	A Director shall not be required to hold any Shares in the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a member of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings.	

87.	 	The remuneration of the Directors may be determined by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution.	

88.	 	The Directors shall be entitled to be paid their travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Directors, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive such fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other.	
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY
89.	 	Any Director may in writing appoint another Person to be his alternate and, save to the extent provided otherwise in the form of appointment, such alternate shall have authority to sign written resolutions on behalf of the appointing Director, but shall not be required to sign such written resolutions where they have been signed by the appointing director, and to act in such Director’s place at any meeting of the Directors at which he is unable to be present. Every such alternate shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of the Directors as a Director when the Director appointing him is not personally present and where he is a Director to have a separate vote on behalf of the Director he is representing in addition to his own vote. A Director may at any time in writing revoke the appointment of an alternate appointed by him. Such alternate shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director of the Company and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. The remuneration of such alternate shall be payable out of the remuneration of the Director appointing him and the proportion thereof shall be agreed between them.	

90.	 	Any Director may appoint any Person, whether or not a Director, to be the proxy of that Director to attend and vote on his behalf, in accordance with instructions given by that Director, or in the absence of such instructions at the discretion of the proxy, at a meeting or meetings of the Directors which that Director is unable to attend personally. The instrument appointing the proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointing Director and shall be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve, and must be lodged with the chairman of the meeting of the Directors at which such proxy is to be used, or first used, prior to the commencement of the meeting.	
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
91.	 	Subject to the Companies Law, these Articles and to any resolutions passed in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all	
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 	 	expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company.	

92.	 	Subject to these Articles, the Directors may from time to time appoint any natural person or corporation, whether or not a Director to hold such office in the Company as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, including but not limited to, the office of president, one or more vice-presidents, treasurer, assistant treasurer, manager or controller, and for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit. Any natural person or corporation so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors.	

93.	 	No resolution passed by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been passed.	

94.	 	The Directors may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a Secretary (and if need be an assistant Secretary or assistant Secretaries) who shall hold office for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions and with such powers as they think fit. Any Secretary or assistant Secretary so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors or by the Company by Ordinary Resolution.	

95.	 	The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors.	

96.	 	The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney (whether under Seal or under hand) or otherwise appoint any company, firm or Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys or authorised signatory (any such person being an “Attorney” or “Authorised Signatory”, respectively) of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him.	

97.	 	The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the three next following Articles shall not limit the general powers conferred by this Article.	

98.	 	The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a member of such committees or local boards and may appoint any managers or agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any such natural person or corporation.	

99.	 	The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any	
20

 
 	 	natural person or corporation so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no Person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.	

100.	 	Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretion for the time being vested in them.	
BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS
101.	 	The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.	
THE SEAL
102.	 	The Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of the Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of the Seal. The Seal shall be affixed in the presence of a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose and every Person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the Seal is so affixed in their presence.	

103.	 	The Company may maintain a facsimile of the Seal in such countries or places as the Directors may appoint and such facsimile Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of such facsimile Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of such facsimile Seal. The facsimile Seal shall be affixed in the presence of such Person or Persons as the Directors shall for this purpose appoint and such Person or Persons as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the facsimile Seal is so affixed in their presence and such affixing of the facsimile Seal and signing as aforesaid shall have the same meaning and effect as if the Seal had been affixed in the presence of and the instrument signed by a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose.	

104.	 	Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Secretary or any assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix the Seal, or the facsimile Seal, to any instrument for the purposes of attesting authenticity of the matter contained therein but which does not create any obligation binding on the Company.	
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
105.	 	The office of Director shall be vacated, if the Director:	

 	(a)	 	becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors;	

 	(b)	 	dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind;	

 	(c)	 	resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company;	
21

 

 	(d)	 	without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three consecutive meetings and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or	

 	(e)	 	is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of these Articles.	
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
106.	 	The Directors may meet together (either within or without the Cayman Islands) for the despatch of business, adjourn, and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think fit. Save as provided in Article 93, questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. At any meeting of the Directors, each Director present in person or represented by his proxy or alternate shall be entitled to one vote. In case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. A Director may, and a Secretary or assistant Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors.	

107.	 	A Director may participate in any meeting of the Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director is a member, by means of telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting.	

108.	 	The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed, the quorum shall be a majority of Directors then in office. A Director represented by proxy or by an alternate Director at any meeting shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present.	

109.	 	A Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that he is a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made. A Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or proposed contract or arrangement shall come before the meeting for consideration.	

110.	 	A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either with regard to his tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested, be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding his interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting of the Directors whereat he or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and he may vote on any such appointment or arrangement.	
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111.	 	Any Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or his firm to act as auditor to the Company.	

112.	 	The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books or loose-leaf folders provided for the purpose of recording:	

 	(a)	 	all appointments of officers made by the Directors;	

 	(b)	 	the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and	

 	(c)	 	all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors.	

113.	 	When the Chairman of a meeting of the Directors signs the minutes of such meeting the same shall be deemed to have been duly held notwithstanding that all the Directors have not actually come together or that there may have been a technical defect in the proceedings.	

114.	 	A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of Directors entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be (an alternate Director, subject as provided otherwise in the terms of appointment of the alternate Director, being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of his appointer), shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a duly called and constituted meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be. When signed a resolution may consist of several documents each signed by one or more of the Directors or his duly appointed alternate.	

115.	 	The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and for so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.	

116.	 	The Directors may elect a chairman of their meetings and determine the period for which he is to hold office but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.	

117.	 	Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, a committee appointed by the Directors may elect a chairman of its meetings. If no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the committee members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.	

118.	 	A committee appointed by the Directors may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.	

119.	 	All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, or by any Person acting as a Director, shall notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there	
23

 
 	 	was some defect in the appointment of any such Director or Person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such Person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director.	
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
120.	 	A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the Minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.	
DIVIDENDS
121.	 	Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor.	

122.	 	Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Company by Ordinary Resolution may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.	

123.	 	The Directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, in the absolute discretion of the Directors be applicable for meeting contingencies, or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds may be properly applied and pending such application may in the absolute discretion of the Directors, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments (other than Shares of the Company) as the Directors may from time to time think fit.	

124.	 	Any dividend payable in cash to the holder of Shares may be paid in any manner determined by the Directors. If paid by cheque it will be sent by mail addressed to the holder at his address in the Register, or addressed to such person and at such addresses as the holder may direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first on the Register in respect of such Shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company.	

125.	 	With the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, the Directors may determine that a dividend shall be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets (which may consist of the shares or securities of any other company) and may settle all questions concerning such distribution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may fix the value of such specific assets, may determine that cash payment shall be made to some Shareholders in lieu of specific assets and may vest any such specific assets in trustees on such terms as the Directors think fit.	

126.	 	Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares, but if and for so	
24

 
 	 	long as nothing is paid up on any of the Shares dividends may be declared and paid according to the par value of the Shares. No amount paid on a Share in advance of calls shall, while carrying interest, be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid on the Share.	

127.	 	If several Persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share.	
 	 	 	
128.	 	No dividend shall bear interest against the Company.	
 	 	 	
129.	 	Any dividend unclaimed after a period of six years from the date of declaration of such dividend may be forfeited by the Board of Directors and, if so forfeited, shall revert to the Company.	
ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION
130.	 	The books of account relating to the Company’s affairs shall be kept in such manner as may be determined from time to time by the Directors.	
 	 	 	
131.	 	The books of account shall be kept at the Registered Office, or at such other place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors.	
 	 	 	
132.	 	The Directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors, and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution.	
 	 	 	
133.	 	The accounts relating to the Company’s affairs shall be audited in such manner and with such financial year end as may be determined from time to time by the Directors or failing any determination as aforesaid shall not be audited.	
 	 	 	
134.	 	The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors and may fix his or their remuneration.	
 	 	 	
135.	 	Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.	
 	 	 	
136.	 	Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members.	
 	 	 	
137.	 	The Directors in each year shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Companies Law and deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands.	
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
138.	 	Subject to the Companies Law, the Directors may, with the authority of an Ordinary Resolution:	
25

 

 	(a)	 	resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including a Share Premium Account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), whether or not available for distribution;	

 	(b)	 	appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the Shareholders in proportion to the nominal amount of Shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively and apply that sum on their behalf in or towards:	

 	(i)	 	paying up the amounts (if any) for the time being unpaid on Shares held by them respectively, or	
 	 	 	 	
 	(ii)	 	paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures of a nominal amount equal to that sum,	

 	 	 	and allot the Shares or debentures, credited as fully paid, to the Shareholders (or as they may direct) in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but the Share Premium Account, the capital redemption reserve and profits which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article, only be applied in paying up unissued Shares to be allotted to Shareholders credited as fully paid;	

 	(c)	 	make any arrangements they think fit to resolve a difficulty arising in the distribution of a capitalised reserve and in particular, without limitation, where Shares or debentures become distributable in fractions the Directors may deal with the fractions as they think fit;	

 	(d)	 	authorise a Person to enter (on behalf of all the Shareholders concerned) into an agreement with the Company providing for either:	

 	(i)	 	the allotment to the Shareholders respectively, credited as fully paid, of Shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on the capitalisation, or	
 	 	 	 	
 	(ii)	 	the payment by the Company on behalf of the Shareholders (by the application of their respective proportions of the reserves resolved to be capitalised) of the amounts or part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing Shares,	

 	 	 	and any such agreement made under this authority being effective and binding on all those Shareholders; and	

 	(e)	 	generally do all acts and things required to give effect to the resolution.	
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT
139.	 	The Directors shall in accordance with the Companies Law establish a Share Premium Account and shall carry to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share.	
 	 	 	
140.	 	There shall be debited to any Share Premium Account on the redemption or purchase of a Share the difference between the nominal value of such Share and the redemption or purchase price provided always that at the discretion of the Directors such sum may be paid out of the profits of the Company or, if permitted by the Companies Law, out of capital.	
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NOTICES
141.	 	Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the Person entitled to give notice to any Shareholder either personally, or by posting it airmail or air courier service in a prepaid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register, or by electronic mail to any electronic mail address such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by facsimile or by placing it on the Company’s Website should the Directors deem it appropriate provided that the Company has obtained the member’s prior express positive confirmation in writing to receive notices in such manner. In the case of joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.	
 	 	 	
142.	 	Notices posted to addresses outside the Cayman Islands shall be forwarded by prepaid airmail.	
 	 	 	
143.	 	Any Shareholder present, either personally or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened.	
 	 	 	
144.	 	Any notice or other document, if served by:	

 	(a)	 	post, shall be deemed to have been served five days after the time when the letter containing the same is posted;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(b)	 	facsimile, shall be deemed to have been served upon production by the transmitting facsimile machine of a report confirming transmission of the facsimile in full to the facsimile number of the recipient;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(c)	 	recognised courier service, shall be deemed to have been served 48 hours after the time when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service; or	
 	 	 	 	
 	(d)	 	electronic mail, shall be deemed to have been served immediately upon the time of the transmission by electronic mail.	

 	 	In proving service by post or courier service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier service.	
 	 	 	
145.	 	Any notice or document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address of any Shareholder in accordance with the terms of these Articles shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder, unless his name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all Persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the Share.	
 	 	 	
146.	 	Notice of every general meeting of the Company shall be given to:	
27

 
 	(a)	 	all Shareholders holding Shares with the right to receive notice and who have supplied to the Company an address for the giving of notices to them; and	

 	(b)	 	every Person entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder, who but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting.	

 	 	No other Person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.	
INFORMATION
147.	 	No Member shall be entitled to require discovery of any information in respect of any detail of the Company’s trading or any information which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Board would not be in the interests of the Members of the Company to communicate to the public.	
 	 	 	
148.	 	The Board shall be entitled to release or disclose any information in its possession, custody or control regarding the Company or its affairs to any of its Members including, without limitation, information contained in the Register and transfer books of the Company.	
INDEMNITY
149.	 	Every Director (including for the purposes of this Article any alternate Director appointed pursuant to the provisions of these Articles), Secretary, assistant Secretary, or other officer for the time being and from time to time of the Company (but not including the Company’s auditors) and the personal representatives of the same (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified and secured harmless against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, wilful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnified Person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.	

150.	 	No Indemnified Person shall be liable:	

 	(a)	 	for the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other Director or officer or agent of the Company; or	

 	(b)	 	for any loss on account of defect of title to any property of the Company; or	

 	(c)	 	on account of the insufficiency of any security in or upon which any money of the Company shall be invested; or	

 	(d)	 	for any loss incurred through any bank, broker or other similar Person; or	

 	(e)	 	for any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgement or oversight on such Indemnified Person’s part; or	
28

 

 	(f)	 	for any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which may happen in or arise from the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities, or discretions of such Indemnified Person’s office or in relation thereto;	

 	 	unless the same shall happen through such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, wilful default or fraud.	
FINANCIAL YEAR
151.	 	Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on the last day of February in each year and shall begin on March 1 in each year.	
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
152.	 	No Person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share upon any trust and the Company shall not, unless required by law, be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share or (except only as otherwise provided by these Articles or as the Companies Law requires) any other right in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in each Shareholder registered in the Register.	
WINDING UP
153.	 	If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Companies Law, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.	

154.	 	If the Company shall be wound up, and the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. This Article is without prejudice to the rights of the holders of Shares issued upon special terms and conditions.	
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
155.	 	Subject to the Companies Law, the Company may at any time and from time to time by Special Resolution alter or amend these Articles in whole or in part.	
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CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE
156.	 	For the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination as to who is a Shareholder for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Register shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not exceed in any case 40 days. If the Register shall be so closed for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders the Register shall be so closed for at least ten days immediately preceding such meeting and the record date for such determination shall be the date of the closure of the Register.	

157.	 	In lieu of or apart from closing the Register, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of the Shareholders and for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend the Directors may, at or within 90 days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination.	

158.	 	If the Register is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of those Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is posted or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. When a determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.	
REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
159.	 	The Company may by Special Resolution resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing. In furtherance of a resolution adopted pursuant to this Article, the Directors may cause an application to be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing and may cause all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.	
DISCLOSURE
160.	 	The Directors, or any service providers (including the officers, the Secretary and the registered office agent of the Company) specifically authorised by the Directors, shall be entitled to disclose to any regulatory or judicial authority any information regarding the affairs of the Company including without limitation information contained in the Register and books of the Company.	
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Exhibit 4.3

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	Page	
PARTIES	 	 	1	 	
RECITALS	 	 	1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Section 1.   Certain Definitions	 	 	 	 	
(a) ADR Register	 	 	1	 	
(b) ADRs; Direct Registration ADRs	 	 	1	 	
(c) ADS	 	 	1	 	
(d) Custodian	 	 	1	 	
(e) Deliver, execute, issue et al.	 	 	1	 	
(f) Delivery Order	 	 	2	 	
(g) Deposited Securities	 	 	2	 	
(h) Direct Registration System	 	 	2	 	
(i) Holder	 	 	2	 	
(j) Securities Act of 1933	 	 	2	 	
(k) Securities Exchange Act of 1934	 	 	2	 	
(l) Shares	 	 	2	 	
(m) Transfer Office	 	 	2	 	
(n) Withdrawal Order	 	 	2	 	
Section 2.   ADRs	 	 	2	 	
Section 3.   Deposit of Shares	 	 	3	 	
Section 4.   Issue of ADRs	 	 	4	 	
Section 5.   Distributions on Deposited Securities	 	 	4	 	
Section 6.   Withdrawal of Deposited Securities	 	 	4	 	
Section 7.   Substitution of ADRs	 	 	4	 	
Section 8.   Cancellation and Destruction of ADRs	 	 	5	 	
Section 9.   The Custodian	 	 	5	 	
Section 10. Co-Registrars and Co-Transfer Agents	 	 	5	 	
Section 11. Lists of Holders	 	 	5	 	
Section 12. Depositary’s Agents	 	 	5	 	
Section 13. Successor Depositary	 	 	6	 	
Section 14. Reports	 	 	6	 	
Section 15. Additional Shares	 	 	7	 	
Section 16. Indemnification	 	 	7	 	
Section 17. Notices	 	 	8	 	
Section 18. Miscellaneous	 	 	8	 	
Section 19. Consent to Jurisdiction	 	 	8	 	
TESTIMONIUM	 	 	11	 	
SIGNATURES	 	 	11	 	
-i-

 

 	 	 	Page	
EXHIBIT A

FORM OF FACE OF ADR	 	 	A-1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Introductory Paragraph	 	 	A-1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
(1) Issuance of ADRs and Pre-Release of ADRs	 	 	A-2	 	
(2) Withdrawal of Deposited Securities	 	 	A-3	 	
(3) Transfers of ADRs	 	 	A-3	 	
(4) Certain Limitations	 	 	A-4	 	
(5) Taxes	 	 	A-5	 	
(6) Disclosure of Interests	 	 	A-6	 	
(7) Charges of Depositary	 	 	A-6	 	
(8) Available Information	 	 	A-7	 	
(9) Execution	 	 	A-8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Signature of Depositary	 	 	A-8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Address of Depositary’s Office	 	 	A-8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR	 	 	A-9	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
(10) Distributions on Deposited Securities	 	 	A-9	 	
(11) Record Dates	 	 	A-10	 	
(12) Voting of Deposited Securities	 	 	A-10	 	
(13) Changes Affecting Deposited Securities	 	 	A-10	 	
(14) Exoneration	 	 	A-11	 	
(15) Resignation and Removal of Depositary; the Custodian	 	 	A-13	 	
(16) Amendment	 	 	A-13	 	
(17) Termination	 	 	A-14	 	
(18) Appointment	 	 	A-14	 	
(19) Waiver	 	 	A-14	 	
-ii-

 

     DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of [DATE] , 2010 (the “Deposit Agreement”) among TAL Education Group and its successors (the “Company”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as depositary hereunder (the “Depositary”), and all holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder (“ADRs”) evidencing American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) representing deposited Shares (defined below). The Company hereby appoints the Depositary as depositary for the Deposited Securities and hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to act in accordance with the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 1 or elsewhere in this Deposit Agreement. The parties hereto agree as follows:
     1. Certain Definitions.
     (a) “ADR Register” is defined in paragraph (3) of the form of ADR.
     (b) “ADRs” mean the American Depositary Receipts executed and delivered hereunder. ADRs may be either in physical certificated form or Direct Registration ADRs. ADRs in physical certificated form, and the terms and conditions governing the Direct Registration ADRs (as hereinafter defined), shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto (the “ form of ADR ”). The term “ Direct Registration ADR ” means an ADR, the ownership of which is recorded on the Direct Registration System. References to “ADRs” shall include certificated ADRs and Direct Registration ADRs, unless the context otherwise requires. The form of ADR is hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof; the provisions of the form of ADR shall be binding upon the parties hereto.
     (c) Subject to paragraph (13) of the form of ADR, each “ADS” evidenced by an ADR represents the right to receive [EXCHANGE] Share and a pro rata share in any other Deposited Securities.
     (d) “Custodian” means the agent or agents of the Depositary (singly or collectively, as the context requires) and any additional or substitute Custodian appointed pursuant to Section 9.
     (e) The terms “deliver”, “execute”, “issue”, “register”, “ surrender ”, “ transfer ” or “ cancel ”, when used with respect to Direct Registration ADRs, shall refer to an entry or entries or an electronic transfer or transfers in the Direct Registration System, and, when used with respect to ADRs in physical certificated form, shall refer to the physical delivery, execution, issuance, registration, surrender, transfer or cancellation of certificates representing the ADRs.
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     (f) “Delivery Order” is defined in Section 3.
     (g) “Deposited Securities” as of any time means all Shares at such time deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other Shares, securities, property and cash at such time held by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect or in lieu of such deposited Shares and other Shares, securities, property and cash.
     (h) “Direct Registration System” means the system for the uncertificated registration of ownership of securities established by The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) and utilized by the Depositary pursuant to which the Depositary may record the ownership of ADRs without the issuance of a certificate, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto. For purposes hereof, the Direct Registration System shall include access to the Profile Modification System maintained by DTC which provides for automated transfer of ownership between DTC and the Depositary.
     (i) “Holder” means the person or persons in whose name an ADR is registered on the ADR Register.
     (j) “Securities Act of 1933” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
     (k) “Securities Exchange Act of 1934” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time amended.
     (l) “Shares” mean the class A common shares of the Company, and shall include the rights to receive Shares specified in paragraph (1) of the form of ADR.
     (m) “Transfer Office” is defined in paragraph (3) of the form of ADR.
     (n) “Withdrawal Order” is defined in Section 6.
     2. ADRs. (a) ADRs in certificated form shall be engraved, printed or otherwise reproduced at the discretion of the Depositary in accordance with its customary practices in its American depositary receipt business, or at the request of the Company typewritten and photocopied on plain or safety paper, and shall be substantially in the form set forth in the form of ADR, with such changes as may be required by the Depositary or the Company to comply with their obligations hereunder, any applicable law, regulation or usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular ADRs are subject. ADRs may be issued in denominations of any number of ADSs. ADRs in certificated form shall be
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executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary. ADRs in certificated form bearing the facsimile signature of anyone who was at the time of execution a duly authorized officer of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such officer has ceased to hold such office prior to the delivery of such ADRs.
     (b) Direct Registration ADRs. Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement or in the form of ADR to the contrary, ADSs shall be evidenced by Direct Registration ADRs, unless certificated ADRs are specifically requested by the Holder.
     (c) Holders shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and of the form of ADR, regardless of whether their ADRs are Direct Registration ADRs or certificated ADRs.
     3. Deposit of Shares. In connection with the deposit of Shares hereunder, the Depositary or the Custodian may require the following in form satisfactory to it: (a) a written order directing the Depositary to issue to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons designated in such order a Direct Registration ADR or ADRs evidencing the number of ADSs representing such deposited Shares (a “Delivery Order”); (b) proper endorsements or duly executed instruments of transfer in respect of such deposited Shares; (c) instruments assigning to the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either any distribution on or in respect of such deposited Shares or indemnity therefor; and (d) proxies entitling the Custodian to vote such deposited Shares. As soon as practicable after the Custodian receives Deposited Securities pursuant to any such deposit or pursuant to paragraph (10) or (13) of the form of ADR, the Custodian shall present such Deposited Securities for registration of transfer into the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either, to the extent such registration is practicable, at the cost and expense of the person making such deposit (or for whose benefit such deposit is made) and shall obtain evidence satisfactory to it of such registration. Deposited Securities shall be held by the Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary at such place or places and in such manner as the Depositary shall determine. Deposited Securities may be delivered by the Custodian to any person only under the circumstances expressly contemplated in this Deposit Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of or governing the Shares make delivery of certificates therefor impracticable, Shares may be deposited hereunder by such delivery thereof as the Depositary or the Custodian may reasonably accept, including, without limitation, by causing them to be credited to an account maintained by the Custodian for such purpose with the Company or an accredited intermediary, such as a bank, acting as a registrar for the Shares, together with delivery of the documents, payments and Delivery Order referred to herein to the Custodian or the Depositary.
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     4. Issue of ADRs. After any such deposit of Shares, the Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and of the information contained in any related Delivery Order by letter, first class airmail postage prepaid, or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. After receiving such notice from the Custodian, the Depositary, subject to this Deposit Agreement, shall properly issue at the Transfer Office, to or upon the order of any person named in such notice, an ADR or ADRs registered as requested and evidencing the aggregate ADSs to which such person is entitled.
     5. Distributions on Deposited Securities. To the extent that the Depositary determines in its discretion that any distribution pursuant to paragraph (10) of the form of ADR is not practicable with respect to any Holder, the Depositary may make such distribution as it so deems practicable, including the distribution of foreign currency, securities or property (or appropriate documents evidencing the right to receive foreign currency, securities or property) or the retention thereof as Deposited Securities with respect to such Holder’s ADRs (without liability for interest thereon or the investment thereof).
     6. Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. In connection with any surrender of an ADR for withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced thereby, the Depositary may require proper endorsement in blank of such ADR (or duly executed instruments of transfer thereof in blank) and the Holder’s written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such ADR to be withdrawn and delivered to, or upon the written order of, any person designated in such order (a “Withdrawal Order”). Directions from the Depositary to the Custodian to deliver Deposited Securities shall be given by letter, first class airmail postage prepaid, or, at the request, risk and expense of the Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Delivery of Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of certificates (which, if required by law shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by properly executed instruments of transfer or, if such certificates may be registered, registered in the name of such Holder or as ordered by such Holder in any Withdrawal Order) or by such other means as the Depositary may deem practicable, including, without limitation, by transfer of record ownership thereof to an account designated in the Withdrawal Order maintained either by the Company or an accredited intermediary, such as a bank, acting as a registrar for the Deposited Securities.
     7. Substitution of ADRs. The Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Direct Registration ADR in exchange and substitution for any mutilated certificated ADR upon cancellation thereof or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen certificated ADR, unless the Depositary has notice that such ADR has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, upon the Holder thereof filing with the Depositary a request
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for such execution and delivery and a sufficient indemnity bond and satisfying any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
     8. Cancellation and Destruction of ADRs. All ADRs surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy ADRs in certificated form so cancelled in accordance with its customary practices.
     9. The Custodian. Any Custodian in acting hereunder shall be subject to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. The Depositary shall be responsible for the compliance by the Custodian with any applicable provisions of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary reserves the right to add, replace or remove a Custodian. The Depositary will give prompt notice of any such action, which will be advance notice if practicable.
     Any Custodian may resign from its duties hereunder by at least 30 days written notice to the Depositary. The Depositary may discharge any Custodian at any time upon notice to the Custodian being discharged. Any Custodian ceasing to act hereunder as Custodian shall deliver, upon the instruction of the Depositary, all Deposited Securities held by it to a Custodian continuing to act.
     10. Co-Registrars and Co-Transfer Agents. The Depositary may appoint and remove (i) co-registrars to register ADRs and transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADRs and to countersign ADRs in accordance with the terms of any such appointment and (ii) co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADRs at designated transfer offices in addition to the Transfer Office on behalf of the Depositary. Each co-registrar or co-transfer agent (other than JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) shall give notice in writing to the Company and the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
     11. Lists of Holders. The Company shall have the right to inspect transfer records of the Depositary and its agents and the ADR Register, take copies thereof and require the Depositary and its agents to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company may request. The Depositary or its agent shall furnish to the Company promptly upon the written request of the Company, a list of the names, addresses and holdings of ADSs by all Holders as of a date within seven days of the Depositary’s receipt of such request.
     12. Depositary’s Agents. The Depositary may perform its obligations under this Deposit Agreement through any agent appointed by it, provided that the Depositary shall notify the Company of such appointment and shall remain responsible for the
5

 

performance of such obligations as if no agent were appointed, subject to paragraph (14) of the form of ADR.
     13. Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by providing no less than 45 days prior written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by providing no less than 45 days prior written notice of such removal to the Depositary, such removal to take effect the later of (i) the 45 th  day after such notice of removal is first provided and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if upon the resignation or removal of the Depositary a successor depositary is not appointed within the applicable 45-day period as specified in paragraph (17) of the form of ADR, then the Depositary may elect to terminate this Deposit Agreement and the ADR and the provisions of said paragraph (17) shall thereafter govern the Depositary’s obligations hereunder. In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor. The predecessor depositary, only upon payment of all sums due to it and on the written request of the Company, shall (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than its rights to indemnification and fees owing, each of which shall survive any such removal and/or resignation), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest to the Deposited Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADRs. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to such Holders. Any bank or trust company into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated, or to which the Depositary shall transfer substantially all its American depositary receipt business, shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
     14. Reports. On or before the first date on which the Company makes any communication available to holders of Deposited Securities or any securities regulatory authority or stock exchange, by publication or otherwise, the Company shall transmit to the Depositary a copy thereof in English or with an English translation or summary. The Company has delivered to the Depositary, the Custodian and any Transfer Office, a copy of all provisions of or governing the Shares and any other
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Deposited Securities issued by the Company or any affiliate of the Company and, promptly upon any change thereto, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary, the Custodian and any Transfer Office, a copy (in English or with an English translation) of such provisions as so changed. The Depositary and its agents may rely upon the Company’s delivery of all such communications, information and provisions for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement and the Depositary shall have no liability for the accuracy or completeness of any thereof.
     15. Additional Shares. Neither the Company nor any company controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company shall issue additional Shares, rights to subscribe for Shares, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or rights to subscribe for any such securities or shall deposit any Shares under this Deposit Agreement, except under circumstances complying in all respects with the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary will use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions of the Company not to accept for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with securities laws in the United States.
     16. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the Depositary and its agents against any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in connection with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the ADRs, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance herewith by either the Depositary or its agents or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense directly arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of the Depositary.
     The indemnities set forth in the preceding paragraph shall also apply to any liability or expense which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum), or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of ADSs, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises out of (i) information relating to the Depositary or its agents (other than the Company), as applicable, furnished in writing by the Depositary and not changed or altered by the Company expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents or (ii) if such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the information provided not misleading.
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or the ADRs to the contrary, neither the Depositary nor any of its agents shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including, without limitation,
7

 

lost profits) of any form incurred by any person or entity, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought.
     The obligations set forth in this Section 16 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any indemnified person.
     17. Notices. Notice to any Holder shall be deemed given when first mailed, first class postage prepaid, to the address of such Holder on the ADR Register or received by such Holder. Failure to notify a Holder or any defect in the notification to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of notification to other Holders or to the beneficial owners of ADSs held by such other Holders. Notice to the Depositary or the Company shall be deemed given when first received by it at the address or facsimile transmission number set forth in (a) or (b), respectively, or at such other address or facsimile transmission number as either may specify to the other by written notice:
 	(a)	 	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Floor 58
New York, NY, 10005-1401
Attention: ADR Administration
Fax: +1 (212) 552-6650	
 	 	 	 	
 	(b)	 	TAL Education Group
18/F, Hesheng Building
32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing 100080
People’s Republic of China
Attention: President’s Office
Fax: +86 (10) 529 2 669	
     18. Miscellaneous. This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the Company, the Depositary, the Holders, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person. The Holders and owners of ADRs from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the provisions hereof. If any such provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected thereby. This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one instrument.
     19. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding against the Company brought by the Depositary or any Holder, arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement or the transactions
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contemplated hereby, may be instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York, and irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company also irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding against the Depositary brought by the Company, arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York. The Company has appointed Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc., 400 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10017, as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon which process may be served in any such action arising out of or based on this Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which may be instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York by the Depositary or any Holder, and waives any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as said agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any suit, action or proceeding against the Company, by service by mail of a copy thereof upon the Authorized Agent (whether or not the appointment of such Authorized Agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such Authorized Agent shall fail to accept or acknowledge such service), with a copy mailed to the Company by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to its address provided in Section 17(b) hereof. The Company agrees that the failure of the Authorized Agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon. If, for any reason, the Authorized Agent named above or its successor shall no longer serve as agent of the Company to receive service of process in New York, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor acceptable to the Depositary, so as to serve and will promptly advise the Depositary thereof. In the event the Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on this Deposit Agreement may be instituted by the Depositary in any competent court in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China and/or the United States.
     To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues
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may have or may hereafter be entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the ADSs, the ADRs or this Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
     EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER AND/OR HOLDER OF INTERESTS IN ADRS) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE DEPOSITARY AND/OR THE COMPANY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE ADSs OR THE ADRs, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, TAL EDUCATION GROUP and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all holders of ADRs shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of ADRs issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
 	 	 	 	 	
 	TAL EDUCATION GROUP
 	 	
 	By:  	 	 	
 	Name:  	 	 	
 	Title 	 	
 	
 	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
 	 	
 	By:  	 	 	
 	Name:  	 	 	
 	Title: Vice President 	 	
 	
[Signature Page to the Deposit Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
ANNEXED TO AND INCORPORATED IN
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
[FORM OF FACE OF ADR]

 	 	No. of ADSs:	
                    	 	 	
Number	 	 	
 	 	 	
 	 	Each ADS represents	
 	 	[EXCHANGE] Share	
 	 	 	
 	 	CUSIP:	
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
evidencing
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
CLASS A COMMON SHARES
of
TAL EDUCATION GROUP
(Incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands)
          JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as depositary hereunder (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that                        is the registered owner (a “Holder”) of  American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each (subject to paragraph (13)) representing [EXCHANGE] class A common shares (including the rights to receive Shares described in paragraph (1), “Shares” and, together with any other securities, cash or property from time to time held by the Depositary in respect or in lieu of deposited Shares, the “Deposited Securities”), of TAL Education Group, a corporation organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), deposited under the Deposit Agreement dated as of [DATE] , 2010 (as amended from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”) among the Company, the Depositary and all Holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (“ADRs”), each of whom by accepting an ADR
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becomes a party thereto. The Deposit Agreement and this ADR (which includes the provisions set forth on the reverse hereof) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
     (1) Issuance of ADRs; Pre-Release. This ADR is one of the ADRs issued under the Deposit Agreement. Subject to paragraph (4), the Depositary may so issue ADRs for delivery at the Transfer Office (defined in paragraph (3)) only against deposit of: (a) Shares in form satisfactory to the Custodian; (b) rights to receive Shares from the Company or any registrar, transfer agent, clearing agent or other entity recording Share ownership or transactions; or, (c) in accordance with the next paragraph of this paragraph (1).
     In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Shares or ADSs; provided, however, that the Depositary may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Shares and (ii) deliver Shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which Shares may not have been received (each such transaction a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of Shares under (i) above (which ADSs will promptly be canceled by the Depositary upon receipt by the Depositary) and receive Shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such Pre-Release will be subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “Applicant”) to whom ADSs or Shares are to be delivered (a) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release the Applicant or its customer owns the Shares or ADSs that are to be delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release, (b) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares or ADSs in its records and to hold such Shares or ADSs in trust for the Depositary until such Shares or ADSs are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (c) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or ADSs, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate. Each such Pre-Release will be at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and Shares involved in such Pre-Release at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided in connection with Pre-Release transactions, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).
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     Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement represents and warrants that such Shares are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable and free of pre-emptive rights, that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do and that such Shares (A) are not “restricted securities” as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Restricted Securities”) unless at the time of deposit the requirements of paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144 shall not apply and such Shares may be freely transferred and may otherwise be offered and sold freely in the United States or (B) have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933. To the extent the person depositing Shares is an “affiliate” of the Company as such term is defined in Rule 144, the person also represents and warrants that upon the sale of the ADSs, all of the provisions of Rule 144 which enable the Shares to be freely sold (in the form of ADSs) will be fully complied with and, as a result thereof, all of the ADSs issued in respect of such Shares will not be on the sale thereof, Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of ADRs. The Depositary will not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and not so registered; the Depositary may refuse to accept for such deposit any Shares identified by the Company in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with such Act.
     (2) Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), upon surrender of (i) a certificated ADR in form satisfactory to the Depositary at the Transfer Office or (ii) proper instructions and documentation in the case of a Direct Registration ADR, the Holder hereof is entitled to delivery at, or to the extent in dematerialized form from, the Custodian’s office of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADSs evidenced by this ADR, provided that the Depositary may deliver Shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities, including ADSs which were issued under (1) above but for which Shares may not have been received (until such ADSs are actually deposited, “Pre-released Shares”) only if all the conditions in (1) above related to such Pre-Release are satisfied). At the request, risk and expense of the Holder hereof, the Depositary may deliver such Deposited Securities at such other place as may have been requested by the Holder. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, the withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be restricted only for the reasons set forth in General Instruction I.A.(1) of Form F-6 (as such instructions may be amended from time to time) under the Securities Act of 1933.
     (3) Transfers of ADRs. The Depositary or its agent will keep, at a designated transfer office (the “Transfer Office”), (a) a register (the “ADR Register”) for the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADRs, and, in the
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case of Direct Registration ADRs, shall include the Direct Registration System, which at all reasonable times will be open for inspection by Holders and the Company for the purpose of communicating with Holders in the interest of the business of the Company or a matter relating to the Deposit Agreement and (b) facilities for the delivery and receipt of ADRs. The term ADR Register includes the Direct Registration System. Title to this ADR (and to the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed (in the case of ADRs in certificated form) or upon delivery to the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of negotiable instruments under the laws of the State of New York;  provided  that the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name this ADR is registered on the ADR Register as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes and neither the Depositary nor the Company will have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any holder of an ADR, unless such holder is the Holder thereof. Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), this ADR is transferable on the ADR Register and may be split into other ADRs or combined with other ADRs into one ADR, evidencing the aggregate number of ADSs surrendered for split-up or combination, by the Holder hereof or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this ADR at the Transfer Office properly endorsed (in the case of ADRs in certificated form) or upon delivery to the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer and duly stamped as may be required by applicable law;  provided  that the Depositary may close the ADR Register at any time or from time to time when deemed expedient by it. At the request of a Holder, the Depositary shall, for the purpose of substituting a certificated ADR with a Direct Registration ADR, or vice versa, execute and deliver a certificated ADR or a Direct Registration ADR, as the case may be, for any authorized number of ADSs requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as those evidenced by the certificated ADR or Direct Registration ADR, as the case may be, substituted.
     (4) Certain Limitations. Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of any ADR, the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, or, subject to the last sentence of paragraph (2), the withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, and from time to time in the case of clause (b)(ii) of this paragraph (4), the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian may require: (a) payment with respect thereto of (i) any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge, (ii) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities upon any applicable register and (iii) any applicable charges as provided in paragraph (7) of this ADR; (b) the production of proof satisfactory to it of (i) the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature and (ii) such other information, including without limitation, information as to citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, beneficial ownership of any securities, compliance with applicable law, regulations, provisions of or governing Deposited Securities and terms of the Deposit Agreement
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and this ADR, as it may deem necessary or proper; and (c) compliance with such regulations as the Depositary may establish consistent with the Deposit Agreement. The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits of Shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or, subject to the last sentence of paragraph (2), the withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the ADR Register or any register for Deposited Securities is closed or when any such action is deemed advisable by the Depositary.
     (5) Taxes. If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by or on behalf of the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to this ADR, any Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced hereby or any distribution thereon, such tax or other governmental charge shall be paid by the Holder hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination hereof or, subject to the last sentence of paragraph (2), any withdrawal of such Deposited Securities until such payment is made. The Depositary may also deduct from any distributions on or in respect of Deposited Securities, or may sell by public or private sale for the account of the Holder hereof any part or all of such Deposited Securities (after attempting by reasonable means to notify the Holder hereof prior to such sale), and may apply such deduction or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge, the Holder hereof remaining liable for any deficiency, and shall reduce the number of ADSs evidenced hereby to reflect any such sales of Shares. In connection with any distribution to Holders, the Company will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to such authority or agency by the Company; and the Depositary and the Custodian will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to such authority or agency by the Depositary or the Custodian. If the Depositary determines that any distribution in property other than cash (including Shares or rights) on Deposited Securities is subject to any tax that the Depositary or the Custodian is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes, by public or private sale, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes to the Holders entitled thereto. Each Holder of an ADR or an interest therein agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian and any of their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.
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     (6) Disclosure of Interests. To the extent that the provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other Shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, Holders and all persons holding ADRs agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable Company instructions in respect thereof. The Company reserves the right to instruct Holders to deliver their ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities so as to permit the Company to deal directly with the Holder thereof as a holder of Shares and Holders agree to comply with such instructions. The Depositary agrees to cooperate with the Company in its efforts to inform Holders of the Company’s exercise of its rights under this paragraph and agrees to consult with, and provide reasonable assistance without risk, liability or expense on the part of the Depositary, to the Company on the manner or manners in which it may enforce such rights with respect to any Holder.
     (7) Charges of Depositary. The Depositary may charge, and collect from, (i) each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of Shares, issuances in respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other Distributions (as such terms are defined in paragraph (10)), issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company, or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or the Deposited Securities, and (ii) each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities or whose ADSs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, U.S.$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered (as the case may be). The Depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other Distributions prior to such deposit to pay such charge. The following additional charges shall be incurred by the Holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering ADSs, to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the ADSs or the Deposited Securities or a distribution of ADSs pursuant to paragraph (10)), whichever is applicable (i) a fee of U.S.$0.05 or less per ADS for any Cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, (ii) a fee of U.S.$1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers made pursuant to paragraph (3) hereof, (iii) a fee for the distribution or sale of securities pursuant to paragraph (10) hereof, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this paragraph (7) treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the Depositary to Holders entitled thereto, (iv) an aggregate fee of U.S.$0.05 or less per
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ADS per calendar year (or portion thereof) for services performed by the Depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year and shall be assessed against Holders as of the record date or record dates set by the Depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions), and (v) reimbursement of such fees, charges and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary and/or any of the Depositary’s agents (including, without limitation, the Custodian and expenses incurred on behalf of Holders in connection with compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment) in connection with the servicing of the Shares or other Deposited Securities, the delivery of Deposited Securities or otherwise in connection with the Depositary’s or its Custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (which charge shall be assessed on a proportionate basis against Holders as of the record date or dates set by the Depositary and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions). The Company will pay all other charges and expenses of the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the Custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between the Company and the Depositary, except (i) stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges (which are payable by Holders or persons depositing Shares), (ii) cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of persons depositing, or Holders delivering Shares, ADRs or Deposited Securities (which are payable by such persons or Holders), (iii) transfer or registration fees for the registration or transfer of Deposited Securities on any applicable register in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of Deposited Securities (which are payable by persons depositing Shares or Holders withdrawing Deposited Securities; there are no such fees in respect of the Shares as of the date of the Deposit Agreement), and (iv) expenses of the Depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such foreign currency). Such charges may at any time and from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary.
     (8) Available Information. The Deposit Agreement, the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities and any written communications from the Company, which are both received by the Custodian or its nominee as a holder of Deposited Securities and made generally available to the holders of Deposited Securities, are available for inspection by Holders at the offices of the Depositary and the Custodian and at the Transfer Office. The Depositary will distribute copies of such communications (or English translations or summaries thereof) to Holders when furnished by the Company. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly files certain reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
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“Commission”). Such reports and other information may be inspected and copied at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at the date hereof at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549.
     (9) Execution. This ADR shall not be valid for any purpose unless executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary.
Dated:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Depositary

By                                                               
Authorized Officer
     The Depositary’s office is located at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Floor 58, New York, NY, 10005-1401
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[FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR]
     (10) Distributions on Deposited Securities. Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), to the extent practicable, the Depositary will distribute to each Holder entitled thereto on the record date set by the Depositary therefor at such Holder’s address shown on the ADR Register, in proportion to the number of Deposited Securities (on which the following distributions on Deposited Securities are received by the Custodian) represented by ADSs evidenced by such Holder’s ADRs: (a)  Cash . Any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary resulting from a cash dividend or other cash distribution or the net proceeds of sales of any other distribution or portion thereof authorized in this paragraph (10) (“Cash”), on an averaged or other practicable basis, subject to (i) appropriate adjustments for taxes withheld, (ii) such distribution being impermissible or impracticable with respect to certain Holders, and (iii) deduction of the Depositary’s expenses in (1) converting any foreign currency to U.S. dollars by sale or in such other manner as the Depositary may determine to the extent that it determines that such conversion may be made on a reasonable basis, (2) transferring foreign currency or U.S. dollars to the United States by such means as the Depositary may determine to the extent that it determines that such transfer may be made on a reasonable basis, (3) obtaining any approval or license of any governmental authority required for such conversion or transfer, which is obtainable at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time and (4) making any sale by public or private means in any commercially reasonable manner. (b)  Shares . (i) Additional ADRs evidencing whole ADSs representing any Shares available to the Depositary resulting from a dividend or free distribution on Deposited Securities consisting of Shares (a “Share Distribution”) and (ii) U.S. dollars available to it resulting from the net proceeds of sales of Shares received in a Share Distribution, which Shares would give rise to fractional ADSs if additional ADRs were issued therefor, as in the case of Cash. (c)  Rights . (i) Warrants or other instruments in the discretion of the Depositary representing rights to acquire additional ADRs in respect of any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or rights of any nature available to the Depositary as a result of a distribution on Deposited Securities (“Rights”), to the extent that the Company timely furnishes to the Depositary evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that the Depositary may lawfully distribute the same (the Company has no obligation to so furnish such evidence), or (ii) to the extent the Company does not so furnish such evidence and sales of Rights are practicable, any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary from the net proceeds of sales of Rights as in the case of Cash, or (iii) to the extent the Company does not so furnish such evidence and such sales cannot practicably be accomplished by reason of the nontransferability of the Rights, limited markets therefor, their short duration or otherwise, nothing (and any Rights may lapse). (d)  Other Distributions . (i) Securities or property available to the Depositary resulting from any distribution on Deposited Securities other than Cash, Share Distributions and Rights (“Other Distributions”), by any means that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable, or (ii) to the
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extent the Depositary deems distribution of such securities or property not to be equitable and practicable, any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary from the net proceeds of sales of Other Distributions as in the case of Cash. Such U.S. dollars available will be distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents. Fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the Depositary in accordance with its then current practices.
     (11) Record Dates. The Depositary may, after consultation with the Company if practicable, fix a record date (which, to the extent applicable, shall be as near as practicable to any corresponding record date set by the Company) for the determination of the Holders who shall be responsible for the fee assessed by the Depositary for administration of the ADR program and for any expenses provided for in paragraph (7) hereof as well as for the determination of the Holders who shall be entitled to receive any distribution on or in respect of Deposited Securities, to give instructions for the exercise of any voting rights, to receive any notice or to act in respect of other matters and only such Holders shall be so entitled or obligated.
     (12) Voting of Deposited Securities. As soon as practicable after receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall distribute to Holders a notice stating (a) such information as is contained in such notice and any solicitation materials, (b) that each Holder on the record date set by the Depositary therefor will, subject to any applicable provisions of Cayman Island law, be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such Holder’s ADRs and (c) the manner in which such instructions may be given, including instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon receipt of instructions of a Holder on such record date in the manner and on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable and permitted under the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities to vote or cause to be voted the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such Holder’s ADRs in accordance with such instructions. The Depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion in respect of any Deposited Securities. There is no guarantee that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to enable such Holder to return any voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.
     (13) Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the Depositary may, in its discretion, amend this ADR or distribute additional or amended ADRs (with or without calling this ADR for exchange) or cash, securities or property on the record date set by the Depositary therefor to reflect any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or other reclassification of Deposited
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Securities, any Share Distribution or Other Distribution not distributed to Holders or any cash, securities or property available to the Depositary in respect of Deposited Securities from (and the Depositary is hereby authorized to surrender any Deposited Securities to any person and, irrespective of whether such Deposited Securities are surrendered or otherwise cancelled by operation of law, rule, regulation or otherwise, to sell by public or private sale any property received in connection with) any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, and to the extent the Depositary does not so amend this ADR or make a distribution to Holders to reflect any of the foregoing, or the net proceeds thereof, whatever cash, securities or property results from any of the foregoing shall constitute Deposited Securities and each ADS evidenced by this ADR shall automatically represent its pro rata interest in the Deposited Securities as then constituted.
     (14) Exoneration. The Depositary, the Company, their agents and each of them shall: (a) incur no liability (i) if any present or future law, rule, regulation , fiat, order or decree of the United States, the Cayman Islands, The People’s Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or any securities exchange or market or automated quotation system, the provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities, any present or future provision of the Company’s charter, any act of God, war, terrorism or other circumstance beyond its control shall prevent or delay, or shall cause any of them to be subject to any civil or criminal penalty in connection with, any act which the Deposit Agreement or this ADR provides shall be done or performed by it or them (including, without limitation, voting pursuant to paragraph (12) hereof), or (ii) by reason of any exercise or failure to exercise any discretion given it in the Deposit Agreement or this ADR (including, without limitation, any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable); (b) assume no liability except to perform its obligations to the extent they are specifically set forth in this ADR and the Deposit Agreement without gross negligence or bad faith; (c) in the case of the Depositary and its agents, be under no obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or this ADR; (d) in the case of the Company and its agents hereunder be under no obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or this ADR, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability be furnished as often as may be required; or (e) not be liable for any action or inaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, or any other person believed by it to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by any securities
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depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise. The Depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any Custodian that is not a branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The Depositary, its agents and the Company may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Depositary shall be under no obligation to inform Holders or any other holders of an interest in an ADS about the requirements of Cayman Island or People’s Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the People’s Republic of China) law, rules or regulations or any changes therein or thereto. The Depositary and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, for the manner in which any such vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. The Depositary and its agents may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in ADRs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or an ADR, the Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit Agreement, any Holder or Holders, any ADR or ADRs or otherwise related hereto or thereto to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. None of the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company shall be liable for the failure by any Holder or beneficial owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. The Depositary and the Company shall not incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Holders and beneficial owners on account of their ownership of the ADRs or ADSs. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for the content of any information submitted to it by or on behalf of the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of this Deposit Agreement or for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Depositary and its agents under certain circumstances. Neither the Depositary nor any of its agents shall be liable to Holders or beneficial owners of interests in ADSs for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including, without limitation, lost profits) of any form incurred by any person or entity, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision hereof.
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     (15) Resignation and Removal of Depositary; the Custodian. The Depositary may resign as Depositary by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by no less than 45 days prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 45th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may appoint substitute or additional Custodians and the term “ Custodian ” refers to each Custodian or all Custodians as the context requires.
     (16) Amendment. Subject to the last sentence of paragraph (2), the ADRs and the Deposit Agreement may be amended by the Company and the Depositary,  provided  that any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or that shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders, shall become effective 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Holders. Every Holder of an ADR at the time any amendment to the Deposit Agreement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADR, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Holder of any ADR to surrender such ADR and receive the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933 or (b) the ADSs or Shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and the ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or form of ADRs shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such case, the notice
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given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (i.e., upon retrieval from the Commission’s, the Depositary’s or the Company’s website or upon request from the Depositary).
     (17) Termination. The Depositary may, and shall at the written direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement and this ADR by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination; provided, however, if the Depositary shall have been removed or resigned as Depositary hereunder, notice of such termination by the Depositary shall not be provided to Holders unless a successor depositary shall not be operating hereunder within either (a) 45 days of the date of such resignation or (b) 45 days of the date the Company’s notice of removal was first provided to the Depositary, as the case may be. After the date so fixed for termination, the Depositary and its agents will perform no further acts under the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, except to receive and hold (or sell) distributions on Deposited Securities and deliver Deposited Securities being withdrawn. As soon as practicable after the expiration of six months from the date so fixed for termination, the Depositary shall sell the Deposited Securities and shall thereafter (as long as it may lawfully do so) hold in a segregated account the net proceeds of such sales, together with any other cash then held by it under the Deposit Agreement, without liability for interest, in trust for the  pro rata  benefit of the Holders of ADRs not theretofore surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations in respect of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash. After the date so fixed for termination, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary and its agents.
     (18) Appointment. Each Holder and each person holding an interest in ADSs, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.
     (19) Waiver. EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER AND/OR HOLDER OF INTERESTS IN ADRS) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
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PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE DEPOSITARY AND/OR THE COMPANY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE ADSs OR THE ADRs, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
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EXHIBIT 8.1
___, 2010
TAL Education Group
18/F, Hesheng Building
32 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing 100080
People’s Republic of China
 	 	 	 	
 	Re:	 	American Depositary Shares of TAL Education Group (the “Company”)	
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     You have requested our opinion concerning the statements in the Registration Statement (as described below) under the caption “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in connection with the public offering of certain American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each of which represents Class A common shares, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, pursuant to the registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”).
     In connection with rendering the opinion set forth below, we have examined and relied on originals or copies of the following:
 	(a)	 	the Registration Statement; and	
 	 	 	 	
 	(b)	 	such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below.	
     Our opinion is conditioned on the initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, information and analyses set forth in such documents, certificates and records (as identified in clauses (a) and (b) of the immediately preceding paragraph), except for the analyses set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Registration Statement.

 
TAL Education Group
___, 2010
Page 2
     For purposes of our opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, electronic, or photo static copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have relied on a representation of the Company that such documents, certificates, and records are duly authorized, valid and enforceable.
     In addition, we have relied on factual statements and representations of the officers and other representatives of the Company and others, and we have assumed that such statements and representations are and will continue to be correct without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief.
     Our opinion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations, judicial decisions, published positions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and such other authorities as we have considered relevant, all as in effect as of the date of this opinion and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or change at any time (possibly with retroactive effect). A change in the authorities upon which our opinion is based could affect the conclusions expressed herein. There can be no assurance, moreover, that the opinion expressed herein will be accepted by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or, if challenged, by a court.
     Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, under current U.S. federal income tax law, although the discussion set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” does not purport to summarize all possible U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs to U.S. Holders (as defined therein), such discussion constitutes, in all material respects, a fair and accurate summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs that are anticipated to be material to U.S. Holders who purchase the ADSs pursuant to the Registration Statement, subject to the qualifications set forth in such discussion and, to the extent that it sets forth specific legal conclusions under United States federal income tax law, except as otherwise provided therein, it represents our opinion.
     Except as set forth above, we express no other opinion. This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the sale of the securities. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof.

 
TAL Education Group
___, 2010
Page 3
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the captions “Taxation” and “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
 	 	 	 	 	
 	Very truly yours,

 	 	 	

 

Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-1 of our report dated July 1, 2010, except for Note 24, as to which the date is September 29, 2010, relating to the consolidated financial statements of TAL Education Group and its subsidiaries and variable interest entities as of February 28, 2009 and 2010, and for the years ended February 29, 2008, February 28, 2009 and 2010, and the financial statement schedule of TAL Education Group included in Schedule I, appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Summary Consolidated Financial Data and Operating Data”, “Selected Consolidated Financial Data”, and “Experts” in such Prospectus.
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd.
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
October 6, 2010