Lichen China Limited Acquires Remaining Equity in Bondly Enterprises to Strengthen AI Development and Business Integration

Rhea-AI Summary

Lichen China (NASDAQ: LICN) has completed the acquisition of the remaining 40% equity interest in Bondly Enterprises for US$5,330,000, following its initial 60% purchase in 2024. This strategic move makes Bondly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lichen China.

Bondly, founded by Zisu Zhou, specializes in business process management and informationization, featuring a proprietary AWS BPM system for seamless business integration. The acquisition aims to fully integrate Bondly's advanced technologies and AI capabilities into Lichen China's operations, particularly focusing on the development of the Lichen AI Robot.

The merger is expected to strengthen Lichen China's position in the AI and technology sectors while driving revenue growth through technological synergies in the financial and taxation services space.

Positive

• Complete ownership acquisition of Bondly for $5.33M strengthens control over AI technology
• Integration of Bondly's AWS BPM system enhances operational capabilities
• Expected revenue growth from technological synergies
• Expansion of AI-driven solutions portfolio

Negative

• Cash outflow of $5.33M for acquisition

Insights

Financial Analyst

The strategic acquisition of Bondly's remaining 40% stake for $5.33M reveals several critical implications for Lichen China's future trajectory. The total implied valuation of $13.3M for Bondly - notably larger than Lichen's current market cap - suggests significant potential for value creation through vertical integration and technology synergies.

Three key strategic advantages emerge from this transaction:

• Enhanced Operational Control: Full ownership enables seamless integration of Bondly's AWS BPM system into Lichen's core operations, potentially reducing operational costs and improving service delivery efficiency.
• Technology Stack Enhancement: Bondly's AI development capabilities and proprietary BPM system provide Lichen with valuable intellectual property and development resources, important for competing in China's rapidly evolving fintech sector.
• Market Position Strengthening: The acquisition positions Lichen to capture a larger share of China's growing demand for integrated financial and taxation services powered by AI solutions.

The transaction's structure suggests a well-planned integration strategy, building upon the initial 60% stake acquisition. The full control now obtained should accelerate decision-making and technology implementation, particularly important for AI development cycles where speed-to-market can provide significant competitive advantages.

Technology Analyst

The full acquisition of Bondly represents a significant technological leap forward for Lichen China, particularly in two critical areas:

Business Process Management Infrastructure: Bondly's AWS-based BPM system provides a robust foundation for process automation and digital transformation. This technology is especially valuable in financial services, where process efficiency and regulatory compliance are paramount. The system's ability to integrate across applications and departments positions Lichen to offer more sophisticated, automated financial and taxation services.

AI Development Capabilities: The transaction secures complete control over Bondly's AI development team and intellectual property, important for advancing the Lichen AI Robot project. This vertical integration of AI capabilities is particularly strategic given China's rapidly growing market for AI-powered financial services and the increasing demand for automated compliance solutions.

The technology stack acquisition comes at a pivotal time when financial service providers are racing to implement AI solutions. Having full ownership of these capabilities gives Lichen a significant competitive advantage in development speed and customization flexibility.

XIAMEN, China, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lichen China Limited (the "Company" or "Lichen China") (NASDAQ: LICN), a leading financial and taxation service provider in China, today announced the completion of its acquisition of the remaining 40% equity interest in Bondly Enterprises Limited ("Bondly"), a prominent domestic consulting firm specializing in business process management and informationization. This acquisition follows Lichen China's initial purchase of 60% equity in Bondly in 2024, and marks a significant step in Lichen China's strategy to fully integrate Bondly's advanced technologies and AI capabilities into its operations.

The acquisition, valued at US$5,330,000, underscores Lichen China's commitment to strengthening its foothold in the AI and technology sectors. By acquiring the remaining 40% equity, Lichen China aims to gain full control over Bondly's cutting-edge technologies and highly skilled team, which are critical to the Company's future growth and innovation in AI-driven solutions.

Bondly, founded by Mr. Zisu Zhou, a seasoned expert with 18 years of experience in process management and information development, has established itself as a leader in business process management and digital transformation. The company's proprietary AWS BPM system enables seamless integration across applications, departments, and business environments, enhancing operational efficiency, transparency, and agility for its clients. Bondly's expertise in AI development and its strong client base across various industries make it a valuable asset for Lichen China's expansion in the AI sector.

Mr. Ya Li, Chairman and CEO of Lichen China, commented on the acquisition, "The acquisition of the remaining 40% equity in Bondly is a strategic move that allows us to fully leverage Bondly's technological expertise and AI capabilities. This transaction not only strengthens our control over Bondly's operations but also positions us to accelerate the development of our AI-driven solutions, particularly our flagship product, the Lichen AI Robot. We believe that Bondly's core technologies and talented team will play a pivotal role in our future growth and innovation."

With the completion of this transaction, Bondly becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lichen China, enabling deeper integration of Bondly's technologies and services into Lichen China's existing offerings. The synergies between the two companies are expected to drive significant revenue growth and enhance Lichen China's competitive edge in the financial, taxation, and AI sectors.

About Lichen China Limited

Lichen China Limited is a leading provider of financial and taxation solution services, education support services, and software and maintenance services under its "Lichen" brand. With over 18 years of expertise in the financial and taxation services industry, the Company has built a strong reputation for delivering professional and high-quality services in China. For more information, please visit the Company's website: https://ir.lichenzx.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company's expectations regarding the integration of Bondly's technologies and the potential growth in AI-driven solutions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," or similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Tian Sun
Phone: +86-592-5586999
Email: ir@lichenzx.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lichen-china-limited-acquires-remaining-equity-in-bondly-enterprises-to-strengthen-ai-development-and-business-integration-302372005.html

SOURCE Lichen China Limited

FAQ

How much did LICN pay for the remaining 40% stake in Bondly Enterprises?

Lichen China paid US$5,330,000 for the remaining 40% equity interest in Bondly Enterprises

What is the strategic importance of Bondly acquisition for LICN?

The acquisition gives LICN full control over Bondly's AI technologies and skilled team, enabling deeper integration of technologies and development of AI-driven solutions, particularly the Lichen AI Robot.

When did LICN acquire its initial 60% stake in Bondly?

Lichen China acquired its initial 60% stake in Bondly in 2024.

What key technology does Bondly bring to LICN?

Bondly brings its proprietary AWS BPM system, which enables seamless integration across applications, departments, and business environments, enhancing operational efficiency.

How will the Bondly acquisition impact LICN's revenue?

The synergies between the two companies are expected to drive significant revenue growth and enhance Lichen China's competitive edge in the financial, taxation, and AI sectors.