广州富豪，索赔9个亿

Core Viewpoint - A legal battle is unfolding between two billion-dollar listed companies, Tianqi Materials and Yongtai Technology, over allegations of trade secret theft and defamation [2][9]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - Tianqi Materials, controlled by Xu Jinfeng, has filed a civil lawsuit against 12 parties, including former chief engineer Li Sheng and competitor Yongtai Technology, claiming that Li violated confidentiality obligations and leaked proprietary technology [3][6][7]. - The lawsuit seeks nearly 900 million yuan in damages [7]. - Yongtai Technology has countered with a defamation lawsuit against Tianqi, demanding 57.52 million yuan in compensation [8]. Group 2: Company Background - Tianqi Materials, based in Jiangxi, has a market value of 35 billion yuan and generated 10.8 billion yuan in revenue last year, accounting for 86% of its total revenue [4][12]. - The company has invested over 1.1 billion yuan in R&D over the past three years and holds more than 300 patents [12]. - Li Sheng, who previously held key positions at Tianqi, allegedly profited 4.285 million yuan from sharing proprietary technology with Yongtai and another company [14]. Group 3: Industry Context - The dispute centers around lithium hexafluorophosphate, a key electrolyte material for batteries, where Tianqi is recognized as a leading domestic producer [27][28]. - Tianqi claims a 40% cost advantage over competitors in producing lithium hexafluorophosphate, which is a significant competitive barrier [29]. - The company has established relationships with major battery manufacturers, including CATL and LG Chem, with over 500,000 tons of electrolyte shipped last year [30]. Group 4: Financial Performance - In 2023, Tianqi's total revenue was approximately 12.52 billion yuan, a decrease of 18.74% compared to 2022 [32]. - The revenue from lithium-ion battery materials was about 10.97 billion yuan, representing 87.67% of total revenue, down 22.19% year-on-year [32]. - The company's gross profit margin for lithium battery materials was 17.45%, higher than the industry average [47]. Group 5: Market Challenges - The price of lithium hexafluorophosphate peaked at 600,000 yuan per ton in early 2022 but has since dropped significantly, affecting profitability [50]. - Tianqi's net profit fell by 74.4% to 480 million yuan last year, leading to a substantial decline in Xu Jinfeng's wealth [51]. - Despite challenges, the company has improved production efficiency and profitability in the first quarter of 2023, reporting a profit of 150 million yuan [52].