SACA(SZ:300464) Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-11-30 13:17Core Viewpoint - Xinghui Co., Ltd. is pursuing legal action against nine former shareholders of Zebao Technology for a tax dispute arising from its 2018 acquisition, seeking compensation of 68.52 million yuan, with the case accepted by the court but not yet heard [2][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Background - Zebao Technology, once a leading player in cross-border e-commerce, was acquired by Xinghui in 2018 for 1.53 billion yuan, with a payment structure of 891 million yuan in shares and 639 million yuan in cash, resulting in approximately 1.14 billion yuan in goodwill [3][4]. - At its peak in 2020, Zebao Technology contributed 86.43% of Xinghui's cross-border e-commerce revenue, becoming a core growth driver for the company [3]. Group 2: Legal Disputes - The ongoing legal disputes between Xinghui and the former shareholders of Zebao Technology have escalated, with previous accusations of operational manipulation and tax evasion leading to significant financial losses for Zebao [4][5]. - In 2024, Zebao Technology filed a lawsuit against former executives for 242.5 million yuan due to alleged misconduct, indicating a deteriorating relationship between former partners [4]. Group 3: Tax Issues - The current lawsuit for 68.52 million yuan is rooted in undisclosed cross-border tax liabilities, with the total principal amount owed reaching 48.7752 million yuan, which was not revealed during the acquisition process [5][6]. - The former shareholders are being held accountable for compliance and financial accuracy as per the acquisition agreement, with Xinghui seeking joint liability for the tax claims [6]. Group 4: Financial Performance - Xinghui's financial performance shows a revenue decline of 6.23% year-on-year for the first three quarters of 2025, totaling 1.112 billion yuan, while net profit for the same period was 2.692 million yuan, reflecting a significant increase of 106.21% [7][8]. - The outcome of the ongoing lawsuit could significantly impact Xinghui's profitability, as a successful claim would alleviate financial pressure [7]. Group 5: Industry Implications - The ongoing disputes serve as a warning for the cross-border e-commerce industry regarding compliance risks, emphasizing the need for thorough due diligence in tax and operational compliance before acquisitions [9]. - The reliance on a single platform, as seen with Zebao's previous dependence on Amazon, poses risks, highlighting the importance of diversifying sales channels and enhancing compliance to avoid operational pitfalls [9].