Prnewswire·2026-03-19 13:00Core Viewpoint - A securities class action has been initiated against Trip.com Group Limited, focusing on alleged misrepresentations regarding the risks of antitrust scrutiny that the company is facing [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The class action seeks to recover damages for investors who purchased Trip.com securities between April 30, 2024, and January 13, 2026 [2]. - Investors experienced significant losses, with Trip.com ADSs dropping $12.90 per share (17.05%) on January 14, 2026, followed by an additional decline of $1.48 per share (2.35%) the next day [3]. - The lawsuit claims that Trip.com failed to adequately disclose the escalating regulatory scrutiny it was under, framing the risks in conditional terms rather than acknowledging the active enforcement [3][4]. Group 2: Regulatory Concerns - The lawsuit highlights that Trip.com's 2015 acquisition of Qunar is central to the regulatory exposure, with the company acknowledging potential violations of the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law [4]. - Penalties for such violations can be severe, including fines of up to 10% of annual sales revenue and orders to cease concentration activities [4][6]. - The complaint details that regional regulators had already summoned Trip.com prior to the formal investigation, indicating that the enforcement was not speculative [3][6]. Group 3: Market Impact - The total loss over two consecutive trading days amounted to $14.38 per ADS, bringing the share price down to $61.30 [6]. - The PRC Anti-Monopoly Law allows for fines of up to 10% of a company's prior-year sales revenue for prohibited concentrations, which poses a significant financial risk to Trip.com [6]. - The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) accused Trip.com of abusing its market position and engaging in monopolistic practices, as outlined in the complaint [6].