Share This: Top stories Covid-19   (i) HKEX’s latest Listed Issuer Regulation Newsletter provides observations on issuers’ recent announcements of business updates, and guidance on disclosure best practices. It contains useful and practical guidance, with examples. It also addresses the impact of Covid-19 on accounting standards (E.g. impairment, lease contract modifications, subsequent events, critical judgment, etc.) […]

Share This: Top stories (i) SFC and HKEX issued a joint statement on how the government’s recent COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings might impact annual general meetings (“AGMs”), extraordinary/special general meetings (collectively as “EGMs”). Such prohibition is currently in force until (as extended) 23 April 2020. Exemptions include gatherings required to be held within a […]

Share This: Top stories (i) SFC and HKEX issued a joint statement, and a set of frequently asked questions (“FAQs”)  to provide guidance to listed companies and their auditors on disclosure of financial information in view of travel and other restrictions given the COVID-19 virus.  Further announcement (“Further Guidance”) was issued on 16 March. Where […]

Share This: Top stories HKEX review:  annual reports disclosure   HKEX published a report on its review of issuers’ annual reports for financial year ended between Jan to Dec 2018.  (Click: press release; full report; our Jan 19 legal update for the last review) This covers: (i) review of disclosure in annual reports to monitor […]

Share This: Top stories ESG: HKEX consultation conclusions; reports review; investor trends   (i) HKEX published consultation conclusions on “Review of ESG Reporting Guide and related Listing Rules”.  (Click: Press release; full report; Listing Rule amendments) It is important to note that the proposals focus on the board’s governance and roles, beyond “technical reporting”.  They […]

Share This: Top stories New SFC cases on director duties in acquisitions/disposals   Two new cases illustrated “recurring types of misconduct” referred in SFC’s recent Statement on the Conduct and Duties of Directors when Considering Corporate Acquisitions or Disposals. (Background: our July 19 legal update) (i) SFC obtained disqualification orders (s. 214, Securities and Futures […]

Share This: Top stories Two notable enforcement cases   (i) HKEX criticizes Yashili International Holdings Limited for repeated breaches of the Listing Rules, and raised concerns on internal controls. (Click: Press release). The case relates to delay in announcing  7 “connected transactions” (“CTs”) during Jan-Aug 2017. The issuer previously received two “caution letters” (in 2014, […]

Share This: Top stories HKEX published its Enforcement Newsletter, covering 1H 2019.   The regulator’s Head of Enforcement, Listing Department outlined its current enforcement focus, and way forward. There was an increase in cases with compliance breaches caused by internal controls deficiencies. HKEX will also “sharpen up its focus on individual conduct” for Listing Rules […]

Share This: Top stories SFC Statement on director duties in acquisitions/disposals   SFC published a Statement on the Conduct and Duties of Directors when Considering Corporate Acquisitions or Disposals. Broadly, this statement is a follow-up on SFC’s Guidance Note on directors’ duties in the context of valuations in corporate transactions (for details: our May 17 […]

Share This: Top stories The Market Misconduct Tribunal found that Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Ltd and its chairman & executive director had failed to make timely disclosure of inside information, and fined them $1.6 million each.  (Click: press release) Both defendants admitted to a four-week delay in the company’s disclosure of its financial […]