PINTEC's Strategic Equity Swap with ZIITECH and Its Implications for Long-Term Growth

In September 2025, PINTEC Technology Holdings Limited, a Nasdaq-listed fintech player in China, executed a strategic equity swap with ZIITECH PTY LTD, acquiring a 25% stake in the latter by issuing 83,726,789 Class A ordinary shares in exchange for 715,521 ordinary shares of ZIITECH [1]. This transaction, set to consolidate ZIITECH’s financial statements under a shareholders’ agreement, marks a pivotal step in PINTEC’s broader strategy to enhance its market position and diversify its offerings in tech-enabled financial services. For investors, the move raises critical questions about how this partnership could reshape PINTEC’s trajectory in a competitive landscape marked by declining revenues and evolving technological demands.

Consolidation: Strengthening Financial Control Through Strategic Integration

PINTEC’s acquisition of a 25% stake in ZIITECH is not merely a financial transaction but a calculated move to consolidate operational and financial control. By integrating ZIITECH’s operations into its ecosystem, PINTEC gains access to ZIITECH’s technological infrastructure, including its ZiiPOS point-of-sale system, which streamlines order, payment, and inventory management for businesses [2]. This integration allows PINTEC to leverage ZIITECH’s digital tools to enhance its own service delivery, particularly in areas like automated credit decisioning and SME financial solutions.

The consolidation of ZIITECH’s financial statements under PINTEC’s umbrella also provides greater transparency and control over cash flows, enabling more efficient resource allocation. For instance, PINTEC can now align ZIITECH’s revenue streams—derived from digital marketing, web design, and virtual assistance—with its core fintech services, creating synergies that reduce operational redundancies [3]. As stated by a company announcement, this move is expected to “strengthen PINTEC’s technological platform and diversify its offerings in the Chinese financial services market” [1].

Diversification: Expanding Beyond Traditional Fintech Services

PINTEC’s 2024 financial results highlight the urgency of diversification: annual revenue fell 33.34% year-on-year to 35.14 million CNY, with H1 2025 revenue at 20.22 million CNY [4]. The equity swap with ZIITECH introduces new revenue avenues by tapping into ZIITECH’s expertise in digital marketing, SEO, and social media management—services that can be bundled with PINTEC’s financial products to create holistic solutions for SMEs. For example, a small business using PINTEC’s lending services could simultaneously access ZIITECH’s branding and digital outreach tools, fostering customer retention and cross-selling opportunities.

Moreover, ZIITECH’s ZiiPOS system, which integrates with third-party payment platforms, positions PINTEC to expand into retail and e-commerce finance. By embedding financial services into ZiiPOS transactions, PINTEC can capture a broader segment of consumer spending data, enabling more personalized credit and insurance products. This diversification mitigates PINTEC’s reliance on its core digital lending segment, which has faced regulatory and market headwinds in recent years.

Financial Control: Leveraging Synergies for Long-Term Stability

The equity swap also enhances PINTEC’s financial control by aligning ZIITECH’s growth with its own strategic objectives. ZIITECH’s founder, Zoey Vincent Vevakpor, is a recognized LinkedIn thought leader and ForbesBLK member, lending credibility to the company’s brand and expanding its network in the Nigerian digital services market [3]. This influence could open doors for PINTEC to enter new geographies or partner with African SMEs seeking integrated financial and digital solutions.

Critically, the shareholders’ agreement ensures PINTEC’s ability to influence ZIITECH’s decision-making, particularly in areas like R&D investment and market expansion. For instance, ZIITECH’s existing focus on business travel management and real-time financial reporting [5] could be redirected toward developing fintech-specific tools, such as automated expense tracking or cash flow forecasting, tailored to PINTEC’s client base. Such innovations would not only strengthen PINTEC’s value proposition but also create barriers to entry for competitors.

Risks and Considerations

While the equity swap offers strategic advantages, investors must remain cautious. ZIITECH’s previous announcement to cease operations in New Zealand [6] raises questions about its regulatory compliance and operational resilience. Additionally, integrating ZIITECH’s digital services into PINTEC’s fintech framework may face technical and cultural challenges, particularly given the distinct markets they serve (China vs. Nigeria).

However, PINTEC’s track record as an “independent technology platform enabling financial services” [7] suggests it has the infrastructure to navigate such complexities. The company’s partnerships with Oliver Wyman and its established role in connecting SMEs with financial institutions further underscore its capacity to scale this integration effectively.

Conclusion

PINTEC’s equity swap with ZIITECH represents a bold step toward consolidation, diversification, and enhanced financial control in the tech-enabled financial services sector. By merging ZIITECH’s digital capabilities with its own fintech expertise, PINTEC is positioning itself to address the evolving needs of SMEs in China and beyond. While risks remain, the transaction aligns with long-term growth objectives, particularly in a market where technological innovation and operational agility are paramount. For investors, this move signals PINTEC’s commitment to adapting in a rapidly changing industry—a trait that could prove invaluable in the years ahead.

Source:
[1] Company Announcement - FT.com - Markets data, [https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202509051630PR_NEWS_USPRX____CN66512-1]
[2] ZiiPOS, [https://www.tyro.com/pos-partners/ziipos/]
[3] Top 20 LinkedIn Influencers in the Nigeria in 2025, [https://www.favikon.com/blog/top-linkedin-influencers-nigeria]
[4] Pintec Technology Holdings (PT) Revenue 2016-2024, [https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/pt/revenue/]
[5] Zii Technologies, [https://www.linkedin.com/products/zii-travel-zii-technologies/]
[6] ZIITECH PTY LTD - 2025-cb2303 - New Zealand Gazette, [https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-cb2303]
[7] Pintec Technology Holdings Limited, [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1716338/000110465919042643/a19-6469_120f.htm]