Huabao International, a Chinese tobacco flavouring supplier, suspended trading of its shares after an offshoot of Anonymous, the hacker group, used a research report to attack the business and its billionaire chairwoman.

In a 44-page report entitled “Smoke and Mirrors”, Anonymous Analytics alleges that Huabao overpaid for several companies bought from its chairwoman, Chu Lam Yiu, and disputed results and performance information presented to shareholders.

Following Tuesday’s publication, Huabao on Wednesday requested the suspension of its shares from trading in Hong Kong “pending the release of an announcement which is considered to be price-sensitive in nature”. Huabao declined to comment on Anonymous’ allegations, but said it would release a detailed response in due course.