Taoping to Acquire Skyladder Group in All-Stock Transaction Valued at RMB 152 Million

Rhea-AI Summary

Taoping Inc. (Nasdaq: TAOP) has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire Skyladder Group Limited in an all-stock transaction valued at RMB 152 million (US$21.36 million). The acquisition includes performance-based targets for Skyladder Group, with projected revenue growth from RMB 74.14 million in 2026 to RMB 180.66 million in 2029.

Skyladder Group is a leader in smart elevator services, specializing in AI-powered supervision and providing comprehensive services throughout the elevator lifecycle. The strategic acquisition aims to expand Taoping's presence in the smart elevator sector by integrating its resources with Skyladder's technological capabilities and channel advantages.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Potential share dilution for existing stockholders
• Integration risks between the two companies
• Performance targets may not be met, affecting the deal value

Insights

Financial Analyst & M&A Specialist

Taoping's all-stock acquisition of Skyladder Group expands into smart elevators, targeting substantial revenue growth with performance-based share structure.

This RMB 152 million ($21.36 million) acquisition represents a strategic pivot for Taoping into the high-growth smart elevator sector. The all-stock transaction includes an intelligent performance-based structure with specific revenue and profit targets through 2029, protecting shareholders from dilution if Skyladder underperforms.

The deal includes aggressive growth targets for Skyladder: RMB 74.14 million revenue with RMB 3.80 million profit in 2026, scaling to RMB 180.66 million revenue with RMB 22.14 million profit by 2029. This reflects ~25% annual revenue growth and significant margin expansion from 5.1% to 12.3% over the period.

The acquisition transforms Taoping's business model by integrating vertical AI-powered elevator services spanning sales, installation, maintenance, and upgrades. This expands Taoping's addressable market into China's elevator industry, which benefits from "quantity renewal and incremental intelligence" catalysts.

The earnout structure indicates management confidence in synergies between Taoping's smart cloud platform and Skyladder's AI-based elevator lifecycle services. However, the absence of current financial metrics for Skyladder or details on integration costs creates uncertainty around near-term dilution for existing shareholders and timeline to accretion.

Transformational Acquisition Expected to Substantially Increase Taoping's Annual Revenue, Expand its Addressable Market, and Leverage its Current Portfolio

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taoping Inc. (Nasdaq: TAOP, the "Company"), a provider of innovative smart cloud platform services and solutions, today announced the signing of a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% equity in Skyladder Group Limited ("Skyladder Group") valued at approximately RMB 152 million (approximately US$21.36 million). Upon completion of this transaction, Taoping will wholly own Skyladder Group. The Company will leverage AI technology to accelerate its growth as it significantly expands the scope of its comprehensive smart elevator services and further enhances its smart IoT strategy.

According to the agreement, the purchase price will be paid in the form of ordinary shares issued by Taoping, with performance-based targets including Skyladder Group achieving revenue of RMB 74.14 million and net profit of RMB 3.80 million in 2026; revenue of RMB 101.98 million and net profit of RMB 7.74 million in 2027; revenue of RMB 135.06 million and net profit of RMB 14.90 million in 2028; and revenue of RMB 180.66 million and net profit of RMB 22.14 million in 2029. Shares will be proportionally unlocked or adjusted as Skyladder Group achieves or fails to achieve the agreed upon targets. Upon completion, Taoping will integrate its own resources with Skyladder Group's technological and channel advantages to accelerate the implementation of its smart elevator service business.

Skyladder Group, through its wholly owned operating entities in China, is a leader in smart elevator services and an innovative practitioner of AI-powered smart supervision. Focusing on intelligent robotics, AI-powered autonomous decision-making, and IoT-enabled deep perception, Skyladder Group provides services throughout the entire elevator lifecycle, including sales, installation, repair, maintenance, renovation, and upgrades. The company serves a diverse user base, including governments, businesses, and households, and is committed to building a leading ecosystem for elevator safety management and intelligent operations.

Mr. Jianghuai Lin, Chairman and CEO of Taoping, said, "We are pleased to have successfully moved from our original non-binding letter of intent signed in December of 2024 to the formal share purchase agreement. This acquisition represents an important strategic transformation for Taoping as we accelerate our growth and build shareholder value by further expanding into the smart elevator service sector and executing on our long-term development."

"The Chinese elevator industry is benefitting from dual catalysts of 'quantity renewal and incremental intelligence.' Skyladder Group's AI-based elevator lifecycle smart service capabilities will effectively synergize with Taoping's inherent resource advantages, further strengthening our presence in the smart elevator sector. We believe that this transaction will not only propel Taoping's business into the high-growth AI-enabled smart elevator service sector but also create stable and substantial value returns for our long-term shareholders."

About Taoping Inc.

Taoping Inc. (Nasdaq: TAOP) has a long history of successfully leveraging technology in the development of innovative solutions to help customers in both the private and public sectors to more effectively communicate and market to their desired targets. The Company has built a far-reaching city partner ecosystem and comprehensive portfolio of high-value, high-traffic areas for its products, which are aligned together with Taoping's smart cloud platform, cloud services and solutions, new media and artificial intelligence. For more information about Taoping, please visit http://en.taop.com. You can also follow us on X.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, such as statements regarding our estimated future results of operations and financial position, our strategy and plans, and our objectives or goals, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "anticipates," "believes," "can," "continue," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "should," or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Our actual results may differ materially or perhaps significantly from those discussed herein, or implied by these forward-looking statements. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: our potential inability to achieve or sustain profitability or reasonably predict our future results, the effects of the global pandemic or other health crisis, the emergence of additional competing technologies, changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes, uncertainties related to China's legal system and economic, political and social events in China, the volatility of the securities markets; and other risks including, but not limited to, those that we discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as well as in our other reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

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SOURCE Taoping Inc.

FAQ

What is the value of Taoping's acquisition of Skyladder Group?

Taoping is acquiring Skyladder Group in an all-stock transaction valued at RMB 152 million (US$21.36 million).

What are the revenue targets for Skyladder Group under TAOP's acquisition?

Skyladder Group's revenue targets increase from RMB 74.14 million in 2026 to RMB 180.66 million in 2029, with corresponding net profit targets from RMB 3.80 million to RMB 22.14 million.

How will TAOP pay for the Skyladder Group acquisition?

The purchase price will be paid entirely in ordinary shares issued by Taoping, with shares being proportionally unlocked or adjusted based on achievement of performance targets.

What services does Skyladder Group provide in the elevator industry?

Skyladder Group provides comprehensive elevator lifecycle services including sales, installation, repair, maintenance, renovation, and upgrades, using AI-powered supervision and intelligent robotics technology.

How will this acquisition benefit Taoping's business strategy?

The acquisition will expand Taoping's presence in the smart elevator service sector, leverage AI technology for growth, and create synergies between Taoping's resources and Skyladder's technological capabilities.