Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news is that Lakala is expanding its cross-border payment services significantly, with a focus on providing integrated solutions for Chinese brands going global [1][2] - In 2024, the company served over 120,000 clients in its cross-border payment business, representing an 80% year-on-year growth, with transaction amounts reaching 49.2 billion yuan, a 14% increase [1] - In the first quarter of 2025, the number of cross-border merchants and transaction amounts grew by 76% and 85% year-on-year, respectively [1] Group 2 - The company is strategically investing in Tiancai Shuanglong to enhance its "Payment + SaaS" transformation in the restaurant industry, which is a key focus area due to strong digitalization demands [2] - Tiancai Shuanglong has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, providing comprehensive SaaS solutions that address various operational needs from ordering to supply chain management [2] - The partnership aims to meet the digital upgrade needs of the restaurant sector, aligning with the company's goal of delivering in-depth digital services to merchants [2]

Core Viewpoint - Lakala, a leading third-party payment company, is making significant strategic moves by investing in Tian Cai Shang Long while divesting from Baotou Rural Commercial Bank, indicating a shift back to its core payment business [3][5][6]. Investment Actions - Lakala announced a strategic investment of 250 million yuan in Tian Cai Shang Long, becoming its largest institutional shareholder with over 35% ownership [3][6]. - The company exited its investment in Baotou Rural Commercial Bank by divesting its shares at zero cost, resulting in a fair value change of approximately -135 million yuan [3][5][7]. Financial Performance - For the year 2024, Lakala reported a revenue of 5.759 billion yuan, a decrease of 2.96% year-on-year, and a net profit of 351 million yuan, down 23.26% [5][6]. - The decline in revenue was attributed to reduced hardware sales and technology service income [6][12]. Strategic Focus - The shift from financial investments to the restaurant sector is seen as a crucial step for Lakala to refocus on its payment services [5][6]. - The collaboration with Tian Cai Shang Long aims to leverage technology to reduce operational costs for merchants, enhancing their focus on product innovation and service upgrades [11][13]. Market Outlook - The restaurant industry is experiencing growth, with Tian Cai Shang Long reporting a 23.86% increase in sales during the May Day holiday compared to 2024 [10]. - Lakala plans to deepen its "payment + SaaS" strategy in the restaurant sector, having added over 10,000 SaaS service stores with a transaction amount growth of 65% [13]. Future Plans - Both companies are exploring overseas expansion, targeting regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and Southeast Asia [14]. - They are set to launch a new lightweight restaurant software product named "Qing Cheng Restaurant Cloud" [14].