SFC Seeks Court Order to Freeze Assets up to $394 Million for Investors Compensation in Suspected Manipulation of Grand Talents Shares
On 30 September 2025, the SFC filed an application with the Court of First Instance for an interim order to freeze assets up to $394,067,589. This amount represents the estimated losses suffered by investors affected by an alleged sophisticated ramp-and-dump scheme involving the shares of Grand Talents Group Holdings Limited (廣駿集團控股有限公司) (08516.HK) (“Grand Talents”), which was listed on the GEM board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in October 2018.
The application is part of broader legal proceedings under section 213 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) against 16 defendants, including suspected masterminds, accused of manipulating Grand Talents shares between June 2021 and June 2022. The SFC aims to prevent the defendants from disposing of their assets in Hong Kong to secure funds for potential compensation to victims.
The following table provides a chronological summary of key events in the Grand Talents case (for reference only):
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Date |
Remarks |
Source |
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25 Apr 2023 |
The SFC issued a notice under Sections 204 and 205 of the SFO imposing restrictions on four client accounts at Silverbricks Securities Company Limited, totaling HK$94,610,762.71, due to suspected manipulative trading in Grand Talents shares from 24 November 2021 to 14 June 2022, leading to a 93% share price plunge on 15 June 2022.
The notice aims to prevent asset dissipation amid investigations into possible false trading, price rigging, and stock market manipulation.
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5 Aug 2025 |
The SFC issued a notice under Sections 204 and 205 of the SFO prohibiting Tiger Brokers (HK) Global Limited from dealing with assets in a specified account (no. 63820919) linked to suspected manipulative trading in Grand Talents shares from 24 November 2021 to 14 June 2022, which culminated in a 93% share price drop on 15 June 2022.
The restrictions are to preserve assets during ongoing investigations into potential violations including false trading and stock market manipulation.
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29 Sep 2025 |
The SFC applied for an interim court order to freeze assets up to HK$394,067,589 from 16 defendants, including suspected masterminds, in an alleged social media ramp-and-dump scheme manipulating Grand Talents shares from June 2021 to June 2022.
The court granted an interim injunction against four defendants, with the matter adjourned for the remaining 12. This action aims to secure funds for investor compensation estimated at the frozen amount.
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Court Orders to the 16 defendants
To date, the Court has granted an interim injunction against 4 of the defendants, restraining them from dealing with assets up to $394 million, which remains in force until further order.
For the remaining 12 defendants, the Court has issued directions and adjourned the matter to a future date. The SFC has indicated it will refrain from further comments as proceedings are ongoing.
SIGNIFICANCE:
This enforcement action by the SFC underscores its commitment to combating market manipulation and protecting investors in Hong Kong’s financial markets. By seeking asset freezes, the regulator aims to preserve resources for restitution, deterring similar schemes that erode market integrity and investor confidence. It highlights the SFC’s proactive use of legal tools to address complex frauds, such as social media-driven ramp-and-dump operations, and reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability in securities trading, potentially setting precedents for future cases involving cross-border or digital manipulation tactics.
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