News Updates

Find out all about our firm’s latest news updates below. To learn more about any individual item, please contact us here.

20 Jul 2018

(中文) 香港交易所提供指引予互联网公司上市申请人

(中文) 香港交易所於2018年7月6日为互联网科技行业,或主要以互联网业务模式营运(统称「相关行业」)的申请人提供上市指引。对母公司/关连人士/主要供应商/主要客户的高度依赖、通过授出股权计划而吸引及挽留人才的日益需要、为持续关连交易设立金额上限、以及要如何符合尚未确定生效的法律法规规定等问题。以下的图表提供相关行业所面对的问题,以及香港交易所给予的指引简要。

问题

背景/叙述

指引

高度依赖

  • 很多相关行业的公司利用主要股东的业务或平台推广其产品或服务,从而导致产生大量《上市规则》所指的关连交易
  • 香港交易所一般认为依赖属於必须披露的事宜。然而,高度依赖可能影响申请人是否适合上市
  • 以下为香港交易所在对申请人依赖程度高低的评估过程中所考虑的因素(载于上市决策LD107-1):
  • 是否容易通过改变申请人的业务模式来降低依赖程度;
  • 未来降低依赖程度的可能性;
  • 整个行业是否由少数公司支配著,从而令到与申请人同一业务的公司难以终止依赖;
  • 是否有相互依赖的情况;及
  • 在有所依赖的情况下,申请人在将来是否仍然有能力维持收益
  • 另外,由於行业竞争激烈,申请人转用其他平台的机会微乎其微
  • 对母公司/关连人士主要供应商/主要客户依赖程度较高的申请人不适合上市,除非该申请人符合以下特征:
  •  
  • 整个行业由少数公司支配,且该等公司可能是或不是申请人的母公司/关连人士/主要供应商/主要客户;
  • 申请人所依赖的服务是由相互竞争并均占有市场支配地位的少数几家供应商提供;因此,申请人难以转用其他供应商的服务来减少依赖程度;
  • 申请人与母公司/关连人士/主要供应商/主要客户之间有合法的商业理由进行交易,且交易属於申请人及母公司/关连人士/主要供应商/主要客户日常业务过程中按正常商业条款订立;及
  • 申请人与母公司/关连人士/主要供应商/主要客户之间订有长期协议,让申请人能够一直获取後者的服务或平台
  • 上市文件需要披露的事宜亦包括:
  • 申请人依赖的范围,以及因其业务模式而导致有关的依赖的原因;
  • 母公司/关连人士/主要供应商/主要客户所提供的服务安排(包括费用及开支)的有关详情;
  • 可降低依赖风险的因素(例如转换供应商/服务提供商的能力)的有关详情;及
  • 有关依赖所带来的风险,包括如果不再被提供有关服务时的「最坏情况」的描述
  • 如果申请人的大部分营业额及/或纯利润是来自持续关连交易及/或其他关连交易,即使该申请人符合上述的所有特徵,该申请人亦可能会因为极度依赖他人被视为不适合上市

持续关连交易的定量上限

  • 如果申请人的依赖构成《上市规则》所指的持续关连交易的规定,申请人须就此设定全年的数额上限
  • 要準确估算通过利用母公司的平台或服务所获的的收益并不实际可行,尤其是在申请人经营时间尚短或其过往收入难以準确估计未来的交易额的情况下
  • 上市申请人能按个别情况改用公式计算持续关连交易的全年上限
  • 随意设定金额上限会过於繁琐,亦在申请人上市後不符合股东利益
  • 申请人获得豁免的前提是申请人必须證明豁免是有需要的,并且所采用的计算公式符合商业惯例

大量应用股份奖励计划

  • 相关行业的公司倾向透过授出购股权挽留人才
  • 《上市规则》第17.03条所规定的10%整体年度上限以及个别参与者的1%上限被视为过於严谨
  • 符合以下情况的,香港交易所可授予豁免:
  • 准许对尚未授出的购股权百分比设定较高的上限;及
  • 准许股份奬励计划的行使认购期限多於十年
  • 如果要申请豁免,申请人必须證明其有需要设立较高的上限或较长的购股权期限
  • 申请人需要在上市文件中披露计划的重要条款,以及香港交易所授予超过《主板规则》所定10%上限的购股权的情况

尚待确立的监管环境

  • 相关行业的公司所经营的业务界别,所涉及的地方法律及法规都在不断地完善
  • 申请人有可能因地方法律及法规不断的变化和完善,令其不能明确地知道如何能向香港交易所證明其公司符合规定
  • 如果相关法律及法规仍然在制定当中,而短期内立法的机会不大,法律意见便毋须包括尚未正式实施的法律及法规。申请人只需要在上市文件披露有关风险便已足够
  • 如果情况显示相关草拟法规於不久之后即将正式生效,申请人便需附上地方法律意见,以證明其能够符合草拟法规一旦按公告形式颁布的规定

本新闻简讯仅供参考之用。对于任何因资料不确或遗漏又或因根据或依赖本文件所载资料所作决定、行动或不行动而引致的损失或损害,史蒂文生黄律师事务所概不负责。

如有任何疑问或需要进一步的信息,请联系我们的劳恒晃律师张源辉律师

20 Jul 2018

Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner Ms. Heidi Chui was Admitted as an Arbitrator of Langfang Arbitration Commission

Stevenson, Wong & Co. is delighted to announce that our Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department Ms. Heidi Chui was admitted as an arbitrator of Langfang Arbitration Commission from 13th June 2018 to 31st May 2022.

Langfang Arbitration Commission (“LAC”) is a social service organization established in Langfang, China in accordance with the Arbitration law of the People’s Republic of China and the principle of governciple support, autonomous management and independent arbitration, to provide independent, efficient and economic dispute resolution services to parties. LAC has more than 260 arbitrators and they are well-known professors, senior economists, senior accountants, senior lawyers and other experienced scholars.

Ms. Heidi Chui is an Arbitrator (on the panel list of the Law Society of Hong Kong), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) and an Accredited General Mediator with both the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the Law Society of Hong Kong. She is also a member of the Arbitration Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong and a China Appointed Attesting Officer. She has been appointed as an Expert on the professional Committee on Real Estate Arbitration of China Academy of Arbitration Law, a Practising Solicitor Member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel and a member of Disciplinary Panel A of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or further information.

17 Jul 2018

Stevenson, Wong & Co.’s Family Department Won Three Awards

Stevenson, Wong & Co. (SW) is delighted to announce that it has won three awards, a testament to the excellence and territory wide recognition of our firm’s Family Department.

SW Partner, Ms. Catherine Por has been selected by “Lawyer Monthly” and “Finance Monthly” as the recipient of “Women in Law Awards 2018” and “Global Awards 2018” in recognition of her outstanding legal expertise and contribution in Family Law. The Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards celebrate and highlight the achievements of women in the legal profession across the globe. It recognizes the excellence and outstanding achievements of individuals over the past twelve months. The Finance Monthly Global Awards recognize and celebrate companies and individuals who have delivered the highest quality results during the last 12 months.

SW has also been awarded the “Family Law Firm of the year- Hong Kong” by Legal 100 Asia. The Legal 100 Asia – 2018 – Awards recognize a select number of leading professional firms and individuals across Asia for their individual areas of specialization. This award gives recognition to firms and individuals who continually provide an outstanding level of service, demonstrating an incredibly high degree of ability, whilst delivering outstanding results that are synonymous with firms and individuals of this calibre.

Catherine heads the Family Law Practice in the firm. She specializes in all aspects of family law disputes, and has extensive experience in complex financial claims, intervener proceedings, financial claims under Part IIA of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Chapter 192), Child Abduction cases, relocation of children cases, claims under the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance (Chapter 13), custody cases, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, contentious and non-contentious trust cases, contentious estate matters; cross border issues and enforcement proceedings. She has provided on several occasions legal opinions on Hong Kong Family Law. Catherine is also an Accredited General and Family Mediator, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is a Notary Public and Civil Celebrant of Marriages.

SW has one of the leading family law practices in Hong Kong with over 40 years of experience. The practice has grown and become a significant part of a developing Private Client department which uniquely also provides wealth protection and succession planning, estates and trusts, Committee work, wealth and asset management, all under one roof. Our teams are dedicated and aim to provide effective and practical solutions and support to people going through changes in their family circumstances. We have expertise in dealing with all aspects of contentious and non-contentious family matters. We also deal with cases with an international element, whether they relate to children or finances. We regularly help clients with PRC issues.

Please contact Ms. Catherine Por for any enquiries or further information.

1 Jul 2018

Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner Ms. Heidi Chui Appointed as Panel Adviser of Film Censorship Authority

We are delighted to announce that our Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department Ms. Heidi Chui has been appointed by Film Censorship Authority to the Panel Adviser from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. The Panel of Advisers is established under Section 6 of the “Film Censorship Ordinance” (Cap. 392) (“FCO”) to advise on the suitability of films for public exhibition.

Ms. Heidi Chui is an Arbitrator (on the panel list of the Law Society of Hong Kong), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) and an Accredited General Mediator with both the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the Law Society of Hong Kong. She is also a member of the Arbitration Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong and a China Appointed Attesting Officer. She has been appointed as Expert of professional Committee on Real Estate Arbitration of China Academy of Arbitration Law, a Practising Solicitor Member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel and a member of Disciplinary Panel A of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or further information.

2 Jun 2018

(中文) 香港重大案例 – 我所诉讼团队成功取得禁诉令 – 禁止与讼方于另一司法管辖区就同一争议进行平行诉讼

(中文) 原告人在香港法院开展了诉讼程序,捍卫自身权益,惟被告人在香港以外的法院提出涵盖相同争议的诉讼,意图捷足先登,抢先取得有利判决,藉此阻挠原告人的香港法诉。原告人面对平行诉讼,有何法律手段阻止被告人的恶意诉讼?

在普通法下,与讼人可透过禁诉令(anti-suit injunction)机制,请求香港法庭行使酌情权,颁下禁诉令,禁止香港诉讼的与卞讼方就相同的争议在香港以外的法院开展或继续法律程序。倘若该与讼方无视禁诉令,有机会被控藐视法庭的刑事罪行。然而,出于对其他司法管辖区的礼让及尊重,香港法院一般不会轻易颁下禁诉令。本所诉讼团队处理的案件(Chen Hongqing诉The persons whose names are set out in the second column of the Schedule hereto [2018] HKCFI 1170, unreported, 2018年5月29日)中,香港高等法院以香港为合适诉讼地,以及外地诉讼属虚假及恶意诉讼为由,应原告人的申请,对若干被告人颁下禁诉令。

案件背景

约于2000年10月,随着国退民进政策出台,不少国有企业的员工得以通过员工持股计划认购企业股份,山东山水集团的员工便是一例。山水集团在香港注册成立了山水投资有限公司(下称「山水投资」),作为中国山水水泥集团有限公司(港交所:0691) (下称「中国山水」)的最大股东,而中国山水则持有山东山水水泥集团有限公司(下称「山东山水」)等子公司。该等员工拥有的52.37%山水投资股份,当时安排由张才奎以信托形式代持(下称「信托股份」)。于大约2014年,山水投资员工与张才奎就信托股份出现纠纷,于香港法院就其信托关系提起了诉讼 (下称「信托诉讼」)。原告人与时任山东山水管理层的宓敬田等人接触后,安排通过11名员工代表(下称「11名代表」),收购山水投资员工实益拥有的股份,并先后于约2015年8月至9月及2017年3月支付收购股份的代价。当时同意出售股份的员工共2,263人,其中1,014人与11名代表签署了确认函(下称「确认函」),确认原告人为股份买方,并承诺于信托诉讼中取得胜诉后,把取回的股份转让予原告人。在此过程中,宓敬田等人于山东山水的职务被解除,而济南市政府则成立了一所国企 (下称「济南国企」),声称为解决各方的争议,将主动收购员工实益拥有的山水投资股份,宓敬田则从旁协助要求员工配合国企的收购行动,签署相关文件,配合签字的员工将获赠月饼及食油等礼品。

作为已付款的收购方,原告人对济南国企的收购行动当然感到忧虑,然而因受到宓敬田等人的威胁和影响,不承认原告人收购其股份的员工人数日趋增加。有见及此,原告人在2017年11月开展了针对2,263名员工的香港诉讼 (即本案),要求法庭颁下命令,强制员工于信托诉讼取得胜诉后把相关股份转给原告人。在2017年12月初,11名代表的其中10名(同为本案被告人,下称「10名代表」)连同另一名声称为替代代表的人士(下称「声称代表」)在济南开展诉讼,要求济南法院基于他们为信托股份的真正买方(而非原告人),宣告确认函无效,企图抢先取得对其有利的判决。有见及此,原告人于2017年12月20日向香港法院提出禁诉令申请。

在2018年1月31日,员工于信托诉讼取得胜诉,意味着有关的山水投资的股份谁属,将取决于上述香港及济南两地所进行诉讼的结果。

法律原则 – 颁下禁诉令的条件

在考虑是否行使酌情权颁布禁诉令时,法庭需要首先考虑香港是否为审理当前争议的合适诉讼地,而法院一般通过以下列出的准则作出裁断:-

1. 根据本案的情况,香港法院是否并非最适合审理案件的法院,而且亦有另一个明显比香港更适合审理该案件的法院?

2. 若以上答案为「是」,法院便需考虑在另一个法院审理本案,是否会剥夺原告任何「合理的个人或司法的优势」 (legitimate personal or juridical advantages)。

3. 若以上答案亦为「是」,香港法院则须在上述第1项的好处和第2项的坏处作出平衡取舍。

倘若法庭认为香港是审理当前争议的合适诉讼地,申请人进而需要向法庭证明境外诉讼程序是无理缠扰、具有压迫性或不公正的,或者为了公正的目的,法庭需要颁下禁诉令。同时,法庭亦会考虑自身对禁诉令针对的对象是否具有管辖权。

由于禁诉令将干预境外法域的司法管辖权,申请人亦必须说服法庭颁布禁诉令的迫切性足以凌驾司法礼让原则。由此可见,法庭在考虑是否颁下禁诉令时,必会格外小心谨慎。

法院的裁定 

适宜诉讼地

在本案中,由于原告人已经获得法院之前所颁下境外送达令状的命令,因此法庭认为原告至少表面上满足了香港为合适诉讼地的条件。另外,法庭亦考虑了以下因素,最终认定香港是处理及解决当前争议的明显且特别的合适诉讼地:-

1. 争议的股份属于一家香港注册的公司,且实际上涉及到另一家香港上市公司的持股;

2. 在香港存在多起围绕山水投资股份争议的诉讼,且该等股份亦正由香港法院任命的接管人托管;及

3. 由于原告人主张自己对山水投资股份的所有权,适用法律应当为管辖该等股份的法律,即香港法律。

济南诉讼是否是无理缠扰、具有压迫性或不公正

在考虑与讼双方提交的证据后,法院基于以下理由,认为存在几乎无法反驳的证据,证明10位代表及声称代表在济南诉讼中捏造案情,且他们的济南诉讼注定会失败 (bound to fail):-

1. 首先,声称代表并非11名代表之一 – 尽管他声称自己在2016年12月替代成为员工代表之一,惟并未提供任何有力的证据,证明该替换是合法进行的。无论如何,所谓替换实际上进一步支持了原告人的案情,变相佐证了11名代表都仅仅是原告人的代名人。

2. 其次,11名代表的其中一员事实上已经把自己的股份权益出售予原告人,他在济南发起诉讼的行为和他自己售卖股份的行为是完全不一致的。

3. 另外,由于代名人的事宜已经交由北京贸仲处理,原告人也已经在香港发起诉讼,济南的诉讼程序根本没有必要。

4. 最后,从时间上来看,本案的令状刚向被告人送达,10名代表及声称代表便发起了济南诉讼。显然,济南的诉讼程序有着不可告人的不当动机,目的是为了损害原告人在当前香港诉讼的权益。

胁迫和引诱

最后,法院认为本案中员工受到了胁迫和引诱,且济南诉讼存在被操纵的风险,可能损害原告人的权益,或剥夺原告人获得公平审判的权利。

基于上述理由,法院认为原告人的申请满足了颁下禁诉令的条件,因此颁下了禁诉令。

本案深远影响

禁诉令在案例中並不常见,香港法院在考虑禁诉令的申请时一般会格外小心与谨慎,一方面要顾及司法礼让原则,另一方面亦要保障申请人的合法权益。

从本案可见,当香港法院认为境外程序存在被操控的情况,而导致原告人利益被不当损害时,法院在平衡各方情況下,会颁下禁诉令,以维持公义。就香港是否合适诉讼地、境外程序是否是无理缠绕或具有压迫性、境外程序是否存在任何胁迫的成份等问题,法院皆在本案的判决中作出了详细的分析与衡量。相信在日后再出现存在各种相似复杂因素的案件,本案将可成为法院重点参考的案例,并对日后禁诉令的申请起了指引示范的作用。

本案由诉讼及爭议排解部主管徐凯怡律师、卢家俊律师、张俊燊律师及黄晊晄实习律师组成的团队,作出紧急禁诉令申请。

如阁下对本案有任何查询或想了解更多详情,请联络本所诉讼及爭议排解部主管徐凯怡律师(heidichui.office@sw-hk.com)。

免责声明:于此提供的资料只供参考,不构成法律意见,上述资料亦受制于适用案例及法例不时的更新与修改,需以当地法律律顾问的法律意见为准。

1 May 2018

Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner Ms. Heidi Chui Appointed to New Panel of Arbitrators of Shanghai International Arbitration Center

We are delighted to announce that our Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department Ms. Heidi Chui has been appointed by Shanghai International Arbitration Center (“SHIAC”) to the New Panel of Arbitrators from 1st May 2018 for a term of three years.

SHIAC received 1,470 domestic and foreign applications and registration forms. After a preliminary examination by the Selection and Disciplinary Committee of SHIAC and comprehensive consideration of their professional expertise, the need for case management, professional influence of the candidates, and deliberation at the third session of the Committee, SHIAC finally selected the new Panel of Arbitrators.

Ms. Heidi Chui is an Arbitrator (on the panel list of the Law Society of Hong Kong), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) and an Accredited General Mediator with both the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the Law Society of Hong Kong. She is also a member of the Arbitration Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong and a China Appointed Attesting Officer.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or further information.

NEWER OLDER 1 2 69 70 71 78 79