On 16 Dec 2021, our Partner, Mr. Gordon Tsang, was invited by Roma Group Limited to provide Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Anti-corruption Training, together with AllBright Law Offices, to the directors and staff of listed companies. The webinar covered the latest disclosure requirements of ESG Reporting Guide and successfully attracted representatives from more than 60 listed companies.

From the left: Mr. Billy Yong, Senior Partner of AllBright Law Offices, Mr. Kingsley Cheng, Consultant of Roma Group, and our Partner, Mr. Gordon Tsang

Mr. Billy Yong, Senior Partner of AllBright Law Offices, and Mr. Kingsley Cheng, Consultant of Roma Group share their insights on ESG Reporting Guide’s latest updates and Mr. Tsang illustrated the key points of the anti-corruption guidelines and the duties of directors and non-executive directors through cases studies.

For more information, please contact our Partner Mr. Gordon Tsang.

On 2 December 2021, our firm’s Partners and Heads SW Private Client Department, Ms. Catherine Por and Ms. Wendy Lam, and Partner Mr. Calvin Lo, were invited by HSBC Global Private Banking to attend the Trust and Wealth Planning Christmas Cocktail Reception at HSBC Main Building in Central.

From the left: Our firm’s Partners, Mr. Calvin Lo, Ms. Catherine Por, and Ms. Wendy Lam

Our Partner Ms. Por won the first prize in the lucky draw.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank HSBC Global Private Banking for the invitation and the wonderful evening.

On 10 December 2021, our Partner Mr. Calvin Lo was a guest speaker for a webinar titled “Exploring Foreign Marriage and Family Affairs Under Civil Law” organised by the Qingdao Lawyers Association’s Marriage, Family and Legacy Planning Committee. The webinar discussed the legal issues of cross-border marriage. Mr. Lo explained the restrictions on the enforcement of cross-border family judgements, and “Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Civil Judgments in Matrimonial and Family Cases by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR” and “The Mainland Judgments in Matrimonial and Family Cases (Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 639)”.

Our Partner Mr. Calvin Lo

For more information, please contact our Partner Mr. Calvin Lo.

Background

On 19 November 2021, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Exchange”) published its consultation conclusions (the “Consultation Conclusions”) as to its proposal to enhance and streamline the listing regime for overseas issuers.  The amended Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Exchange (the “Listing Rules”) and the new guidance materials become effective from 1 January 2022.

The said proposals received large support from the public.  As such, the Exchange has concluded to adopt all the proposals outlined in its consultation paper on enhancing and streamlining the listing regime for overseas issuers on 31 March 2021 (the “Consultation Paper”) with minor modifications.  This article follows up with our news update in April 2021 on the Exchange’s Consultation Paper.  The capitalised terms used herein shall have the same meaning as defined in the Consultation Conclusions and Consultation Paper.  

In summary, the revised listing regime will be based on the following: 

• Streamlining shareholder protection standards into one set of “Core Standards”;
• Relaxing requirements on secondary listing regime for non-WVR Greater China Issuers, (a) without demonstration as an “innovative company”; and (b) lowering the minimum market capitalisation at listing than currently required;
• Allowing Grandfathered Greater China Issuers and Non-Greater China Issuers eligible for secondary listing with their existing WVR and/or variable interest entity structures to opt for a dual primary listing; and
• Publishing new guidance materials for secondary listed issuers.

Key Summary of the Revised Listing Regime

The key points of the revised listing regime of Overseas Issuers are set out as follows.  

Core Shareholder Protection Standards

1. the notice and conduct of general meetings; 
2. members’ right to remove directors, requisition a meeting, vote, speak and appoint proxies or corporate representatives; 
3. the reservation of auditor appointment, etc. to a committee independent of the board of directors of a company or a majority of the shareholders and the reservation of certain other material matters to supermajority votes by shareholders; 
4. restrictions on the term of a director appointed to fill a casual vacancy; 
5. availability of the shareholders’ register for inspection; and
6. restrictions on shareholder voting on certain matters required by the Listing Rules.  

Dual Primary Listing

Secondary Listing Requirements

Criteria A 

1. a track record of good regulatory compliance of at least five full financial years on a Qualifying Exchange (for any Overseas Issuer without a WVR structure) or on any Recognised Stock Exchange (only for Overseas Issuers without a WVR structure and without a centre of gravity in Greater China); and 
2. an expected market capitalisation at the time of secondary listing of at least HK$3 billion. 

Criteria B

1. a track record of good regulatory compliance of at least two full financial years on a Qualifying Exchange; and 
2. an expected market capitalisation at the time of secondary listing of at least HK$10 billion.

Secondary listed issuers’ conversion to primary listing status

• Route 1 – For issuers delisted from the overseas exchange: 
  1. A 12-month automatic grace period available for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with HKFRS/ IFRS upon delisting from the primary listing market.
  2. Automatic Waivers will be disapplied in respect of other Listing Rules upon being delisted from the primary listing market.
  3. Regarding involuntary delisting from the overseas exchange, transitional arrangements shall apply for continuing transactions which are entered into before the issuer’s notification of the involuntary delisting to the Exchange so that the transactions are exempt from applicable Listing Rules for 3 years from the date of the delisting notification. 
  4. In the event that an Overseas Issuer expects difficulty in complying with specific applicable Listing Rules, a grace period may be granted on a case-by-case basis. The Exchange reserves the power to require the issuer’s stock short name to include a special stock marker (TP) to indicate that the issuer is a primary listed issuer under transitional arrangements.

• Route 2 – For issuers that become primary listed in Hong Kong as a result of Migration: 
  1. Upon the majority of trading in the Overseas Issuer’s listed shares (i.e. 55% or more of the total worldwide trading volume, by dollar value, of those shares) migrates to the Exchange’s markets on a permanent basis over the overseas issuer’s most recent financial year, all Automatic Waivers will be revoked subject to the existing transitional arrangements of Chapter 19C.

• Route 3 – For issuers that become dual primary listed in Hong Kong as a result of Primary Conversion:
  1. All Automatic Waivers shall be revoked upon the effective date of Primary Conversion and a grace period for full compliance with the Listing Rules will not normally be allowed.

Analysis and Takeaways

The revised listing regime enhances and streamlines the Exchange’s approach to Overseas Issuer listings as a whole.  It clarifies the applicable requirements, thereby creating incentives for overseas issuers primary listed elsewhere to explore possibilities of applying for dual primary listing or secondary listing on the Exchange.  Some of the more restrictive requirements for issuers with a centre of gravity in Greater China have been removed, and it is expected to attract more US-listed Greater China Issuers to seek “homecoming” secondary listing attempts on the Exchange.

Please contact our Partner Mr. Rodney Teoh for any enquiries or further information.

This newsletter is for information purposes only. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. Stevenson, Wong & Co. will not be liable to you in respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from or in connection with any decision made, action or inaction taken in reliance on the information set out herein.

(中文) 2021年11月19日, 本所合伙人，诉讼及争议解决部主管兼广东省粤港澳合作促进会第一届法律专业委员会副秘书长、香港女律师协会现任理事- 徐凯怡律师，受邀为「比较中华人民共和国和香港特区合同法及商业仲裁法」担任主持及演讲嘉宾。

本次在线座谈会由广东省粤港澳合作促进会法律专业委员香港区主办, ACIA华人内部审计师公会和香港女律师协会共同协办，并吸引了超过1200名人士报名参加。

左起:香港女律师协会主席曾妙儿律师、广东省粤港澳合作促进会法律专业委员会委员何文琪律师、本所合伙人，诉讼及争议解决部主管徐凯怡律师和华人内部审计师公会会长徐惠祥博士

随着400多名香港律师取得在粤港澳大湾区内地九市执业资格，香港律师及大湾区企业需特别注意内地合同法及商业仲裁法有别于香港普通法。徐律师在会上阐释了香港的仲裁司法体系以及香港法院在其担当之角色, 并就内地与香港签订的司法互助安排之《两地仲裁保全安排》之要点进行了分享与讨论。

本次座谈会成果丰硕，本所期待日后与华人内部审计师公会和香港女律师协会在不同领域中合作。

左起: 华人内部审计师公会副会长刘嘉明先生、本所合伙人徐凯怡律师、华人内部审计师公会荣誉顾问周荣生先生和华人内部审计师公会会长徐惠祥博士

若阁下想了解更多详情，请联络本所合伙人徐凯怡律师(heidichui.office@sw-hk.com)。

Asian Legal Business (ALB) published their recent findings of Asia’s Top 50 Law Firms on 18 November 2021. We are pleased to announce that our firm has been listed as the top 5th largest Hong Kong domestic law firm for 6 consecutive years.

Established in 1978, Stevenson, Wong & Co. has more than 170 experienced lawyers and staff. Our aim is to provide clients with innovative and effective solutions for their personal or commercial problems with our local and international expertise.

We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our association firm, AllBright Law Offices, for being ranked as the top 5th largest domestic law firm across Asia.

About ALB and Asia Top 50
ALB is a leading law journal published by Thomson Reuters and is considered as one of the most influential legal media in Asia. ALB’s Asia Top 50 aims to identify and rank the largest law firms across Asia by their size and number of lawyers.

For the full ranking, please click here.

Please contact us for any enquiries or further information.