AMTD, Owner of L'Officiel and AMTD IDEA Brands, Launches Litigation against Jalou Family for Malicious Falsehood, Defamation, and Consequential Loss and Damage

Rhea-AI Summary

{"summary":"","positive":[],"negative":[],"faq":[]}

Key Figures

GEM AUM: $3.4 billion L’OFFICIEL acquisition: 100% purchase price paid SPAC IPO size: 15 million units at $10.00 +5 more

8 metrics

GEM AUM $3.4 billion Global Emerging Markets alternative investment group size cited in article

L’OFFICIEL acquisition 100% purchase price paid Completion detail for 2022 acquisition of L’OFFICIEL brand

SPAC IPO size 15 million units at $10.00 TGE Value Creative Solutions SPAC IPO pricing

SPAC warrant strike $11.50 Exercise price per full warrant in TGE-sponsored SPAC

Kuala Lumpur hotel deal HK$300 million Consideration for 80% stake in Upper View Regalia Hotel

Added hotel assets USD 300 million Value of hotel acquisitions highlighted in 6-K filed Dec 29, 2025

Ritz-Carlton Perth deal value A$280 million Total stated value for 50% interest in The Ritz Carlton Perth

Revenue growth 1,085.9% increase Half-year revenue change in 6-K dated Oct 31, 2025

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.02 Vol: Volume 216,389 is below t...

normal vol

$1.02 Last Close

Volume Volume 216,389 is below the 20-day average of 268,688 (relative volume 0.81). normal

Technical Price at 1.43 is trading below the 200-day MA of 1.77 and far under the 5.47 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

HKD gained 2.88% while peers showed mixed moves: several like APPS, ALTS and DJC...

HKD gained 2.88% while peers showed mixed moves: several like APPS, ALTS and DJCO were up, but RBBN declined. With no peers in the momentum scanner and no same-day peer news, this points to stock-specific trading rather than a broad sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 26 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 26	Hotel acquisition	Positive	-2.2%	TGE agreed to acquire Hilton Garden Inn New York City Tribeca.
Dec 19	Marketing campaign	Positive	+0.7%	L’OFFICIEL launched global Jay Chou cover project across seven regions.
Dec 19	SPAC pricing	Positive	+0.7%	TGE’s sponsored SPAC priced IPO of 15M units at $10 each.
Dec 15	Brand event	Positive	-6.9%	L’OFFICIEL staged a landmark fashion show at London Stock Exchange.
Dec 15	Hotel acquisition	Positive	-6.9%	TGE agreed to buy 80% of Upper View Regalia Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Pattern Detected

Recent corporate and branding announcements often saw muted or negative next-day moves, even when news appeared operationally positive.

Recent Company History

Over the last two months, AMTD Digital (HKD) has focused on hospitality expansion and brand-building. TGE executed multiple hotel SPAs, including an 80% stake in a Kuala Lumpur property for HK$300 million and a Tribeca hotel deal, while a 6-K highlighted about USD 300 million of added hotel assets. L’OFFICIEL hosted high‑profile fashion events and a Jay Chou global cover project. Despite these seemingly positive developments, several items (e.g., hotels and events in December 2025) coincided with negative or only modestly positive price reactions.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement outlines AMTD’s legal response to alleged defamation tied to its L’OFFICIEL and AM...

Analysis

This announcement outlines AMTD’s legal response to alleged defamation tied to its L’OFFICIEL and AMTD IDEA brands, emphasizing that the 2022 acquisition of L’OFFICIEL was fully completed with 100% of the purchase price paid and no new debt at that entity. Investors may contextualize this against recent expansion moves and a reported 1,085.9% revenue increase, while monitoring how ongoing litigation and any related press coverage interact with the company’s brand-focused strategy and hospitality investments.

Key Terms

pipe's (private investments in public equities), warrant, ipo, secondary listing, +3 more

7 terms

pipe's (private investments in public equities) financial

"diverse investment vehicles like management buyouts, PIPE's (Private Investments in Public Equities)"

PIPEs (private investments in public equities) occur when a publicly traded company sells shares or convertible securities directly to a limited group of private investors rather than through the open market. Investors care because PIPEs provide fast capital—like a business privately selling extra slices of a cake to raise cash—but they can reduce each existing shareholder’s percentage ownership and increase the number of shares available, which may lower the market price and change control dynamics.

warrant financial

"one Class A ordinary share and one-half warrant (each full warrant exercisable at $11.50)"

A warrant is a time-limited financial contract that gives its holder the right to buy a company's shares at a set price before a specified date, like a coupon that lets you purchase stock at a fixed discount for a limited time. It matters to investors because warrants offer leveraged exposure to a stock’s upside and can dilute existing shareholders if exercised, so they affect potential gains and the company’s outstanding share count.

ipo financial

"successfully priced an IPO of 15 million units at $10.00 per unit"

An initial public offering (IPO) is the process by which a private company sells its shares to the public for the first time, making its ownership available on the stock market. This allows the company to raise money from a wide range of investors to fund growth or other goals. For investors, an IPO offers a chance to buy into a company early in its public journey, potentially benefiting if the company grows in value.

secondary listing financial

"plans a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange"

A secondary listing is when a company that is already publicly traded adds a listing on another stock exchange, so its shares can be bought and sold in a different country or market. For investors it matters because it can increase the pool of buyers and sellers, improve liquidity, and expose the stock to different time zones, currencies and rules—think of a store opening a second branch so more customers can shop more easily.

form 6-k regulatory

"submitted a Form 6-K to share information about new hotel acquisition agreements"

A Form 6-K is a report that companies listed in certain countries file to provide important updates, such as financial results, corporate changes, or other significant information, to regulators and investors. It functions like an official company update or news release, helping investors stay informed about developments that could affect their investment decisions.

de-spac transaction financial

"hotel acquisitions following its de-SPAC transaction, adding USD 300 million worth of assets"

A de-SPAC transaction is the process by which a privately held company becomes a public company by combining with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), allowing the private business to start trading on a stock exchange without a traditional initial public offering. It matters to investors because it suddenly opens a new investment opportunity but also brings rapid changes in ownership, fresh financial disclosures and potential price volatility and dilution—think of a local shop joining a national franchise and immediately being sold to the public.

share repurchase program financial

"a hotel buyout deal in Malaysia, and a share repurchase program."

A share repurchase program is when a company buys back its own shares from the marketplace. This reduces the total number of shares available, which can increase the value of each remaining share and signal confidence in the company's prospects. For investors, it often suggests that the company believes its stock is undervalued or that it has extra cash to return to shareholders.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

PARIS, LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AMTD Group Inc. ("AMTD Group"), AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB), AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD) and The Generation Essentials Group ("TGE", NYSE: TGE; LSE: TGE), a subsidiary of AMTD Digital Inc., jointly announce that AMTD IDEA Group has commenced legal action against Mr Benjamin Eymere of the Jalou Family, in connection with serious defamatory action against the Group, as well as misconduct including bad faith harassment of the Group's staff and executives.

Mr Eymere was a former employee of a subsidiary of the Group, and he was summarily dismissed due to his misconduct and mismanagement. He attempted to file an appeal in the Paris Court, but his actions have been continuously dismissed.

Moreover, Mr Eymere's recent actions involving misconduct and bad faith have required AMTD to take legal actions, importantly to correct baseless allegations and misstatements in relation to the Group's L'Officiel and AMTD IDEA brands, which have been recently mentioned in certain press and social media publications. 

AMTD has already made formal reports to law enforcement authorities in connection with Mr Eymere's present and past misconduct. 

AMTD firmly believes that the rule of law and fairness and justice will prevail, and looks forward to correcting and dispelling any slander or defamatory statements which might have been made against it.

On an overall basis, we take the opportunity to highlight certain evident inaccuracies in certain press and social media induced by Mr Eymere and/or the Jalou family:

1) The Duly Completed Acquisition of 100% of L'Officiel in 2022 : The L'Officiel Brand was acquired in 2022 primarily from Gem Global Yield LLC SCS (GGY), which is part of Global Emerging Markets (GEM), a $3.4 billion alternative investment group, focusing on emerging markets with diverse investment vehicles like management buyouts, PIPE's (Private Investments in Public Equities), and venture investments (see official announcements by GEM as lead seller https://www.gemny.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/GEM-AMTD-PRESS-RELEASE-from-Paris-France-FINAL-Version.pdf and AMTD as the buyer https://ir.amtdinc.com/press-releases/news-details/2022/AMTD-International-Acquires-Global-Fashion-Media-Group-LOfficiel-Inc-SAS/default.aspx, in which both sides confirm that the AMTD acquisition has been completed with 100% of purchase price duly paid).

2) Since the AMTD's acquisition as a "white knight" investor, L'Officiel has not incurred any debt or engaged in liabilities for business, and L'Officiel nowadays is financially strong with solid equity base

3) The controlling shareholder from which AMTD acquired the business was GEM, not the Jalou family, nor Mr Eymere. The Jalou family was not a controller nor a majority shareholder in L'Officiel at the time of acquisition.

AMTD would also strongly emphasize that it will tirelessly prosecute and continue legal action against any wrongdoers which seek to harm its reputation and breach the law. We are confident that our perseverance and commitment will inevitably bring justice and fairness, without reservations.

About AMTD Group

AMTD Group is a conglomerate with a core business portfolio spanning across media and entertainment, education and training, and premium assets and hospitality sectors.

About AMTD IDEA Group

AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) represents a diversified institution and digital solutions group connecting companies and investors with global markets. Its comprehensive one-stop business services plus digital solutions platform addresses different clients' diverse and inter-connected business needs and digital requirements across all phases of their life cycles. AMTD IDEA Group is uniquely positioned as an active super connector between clients, business partners, investee companies, and investors, connecting the East and the West. For more information, please visit www.amtdinc.com or follow us on X (formerly known as "Twitter") at @AMTDGroup.

About AMTD Digital Inc.

AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD) is a comprehensive digital solutions platform headquartered in France. Its one-stop digital solutions platform operates key business lines including digital media, content and marketing services, investments as well as hospitality and VIP services. For AMTD Digital's announcements, please visit https://ir.amtdigital.net/investor-news.

About The Generation Essentials Group

The Generation Essentials Group (NYSE: TGE; LSE: TGE), jointly established by AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) and AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD), is headquartered in France and focuses on global strategies and developments in multi-media, entertainment, and cultural affairs worldwide as well as hospitality and VIP services. TGE comprises L'Officiel, The Art Newspaper, movie and entertainment projects. Collectively, TGE is a diversified portfolio of media and entertainment businesses, and a global portfolio of premium properties. Also, TGE is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsor manager, with its first SPAC successfully raised and priced on December 18, 2025.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor"provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects,""anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes,""estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs, plans, and expectations of AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital and/or The Generation Essentials Group, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the filings of AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital and The Generation Essentials Group with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and none of AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital and The Generation Essentials Group undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amtd-owner-of-lofficiel-and-amtd-idea-brands-launches-litigation-against-jalou-family-for-malicious-falsehood-defamation-and-consequential-loss-and-damage-302662506.html

SOURCE AMTD Digital Inc.; AMTD IDEA Group; The Generation Essentials Group