Listing Russian companies in Hong Kong

INTRODUCTION

In January 2016, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the Exchange) recognised Russia as an acceptable jurisdiction of incorporation for listing applicants (Acceptable Jurisdiction). This means that Russian companies can now apply to list in Hong Kong. As a matter of Russian law, a Russian company must be listed on a Russian stock exchange before it can apply to list in Hong Kong. Russian companies will also have to list depositary receipts rather than shares which means that they will only be able to list on the Exchange’s Main Board (Main Board). Depositary receipts cannot be listed on Hong Kong’s second board, the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM).

Russia’s recognition as an Acceptable Jurisdiction is significant as previously Russia-based companies were only able to list in Hong Kong if they were incorporated outside Russia in a jurisdiction recognised by the Exchange. Hence only two Russia-based companies listed in Hong Kong prior to 2016, United Company Rusal PLC and IRC Limited, which are incorporated in Jersey and Hong Kong, respectively. The opening of Hong Kong’s listing regime to Russian companies followed Russia becoming a signatory to the International Organisation of Securities Commissions’ Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Consultation and Cooperation and the Exchange of Information (the IOSCO MMoU) in February 2015.¹ However, where a Russian listing applicant has its place of central management and control outside of Russia, the statutory securities regulator of that jurisdiction must also be a full signatory of the IOSCO MMoU, or have entered a bi-lateral agreement with Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).

With a market capitalisation of US$3,185 billion at the end of 2015, the Exchange is currently the world’s 8th largest stock exchange by market capitalisation, and the fourth largest in Asia after Japan, Shanghai and Shenzhen. In terms of IPO funds raised, however, Hong Kong was the top IPO market in 2015, continuing a trend that has placed it in the world’s top five for the past 14 years.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is a leading international stock exchange which allows full access to foreign investors wishing to trade on its markets and offers a listing venue to foreign companies which are able to meet its requirements. The key advantage of Hong Kong and its stock exchange is its strategic position as the gateway between Mainland China and the rest of the world. Hong Kong has long been the preferred international listing venue for mainland Chinese companies looking to raise funds in the international capital markets and there are currently 951 Chinese companies listed on the Exchange which account for 62% of its total market capitalisation.

The Exchange has also been keen to list more international companies, and recent years have seen an increasing number of international companies listing in Hong Kong.

There were 1,866 companies listed on the Exchange as at 31 December 2015, of which 1,644 were listed on the Exchange’s Main Board. A key factor attracting foreign companies to the Hong Kong market is the depth of liquidity in both its primary and secondary markets.

There were 138 new listings² on the Exchange in 2015 which raised US$ 33.47 billion (up 12.39% from 2014). The ease of raising funds post-listing is also attractive to foreign companies. In 2015, listed companies raised US$108 billion post listing, an increase of 19.36% on 2014. Hong Kong is a highly active stock exchange and 2015 saw record average daily turnover of HK$105.63 billion. The previous record was HK$87.42 billion in 2007.

While financial and consumer goods issuers raise the most funds, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange attracts a diverse portfolio of issuers, including information technology, telecommunications and energy companies. Financial and consumer goods issuers raised over 70% of the total IPO funds raised in 2015.

Hong Kong currently ranks as Asia’s top international financial centre. Among the benefits of listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange is that this provides overseas companies with access to investors in Mainland China, currently under the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) programme. This allows Mainland Chinese financial institutions to raise funds in the domestic Chinese market and to invest US$76.79 billion in offshore securities markets. The importance of Mainland Chinese investors is expected to grow and the Exchange is positioning itself as the vehicle through which Mainland Chinese investors invest internationally.

A first step in that process was the launch in November 2014 of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect pilot programme which allows certain Mainland Chinese investors to invest directly in Hong Kong listed stocks for the first time. Although currently restricted to Hang Seng Index companies, it is likely that the programme will be expanded to include other stocks in the future. If this is the case, a Hong Kong listing will offer international companies even greater access to Mainland China’s investors.

Launched in November 2014, the pilot programme allows investors in Hong Kong and China to trade eligible shares listed on the other market through the exchange and clearing house in their local market.

Under the so-called Southbound Trading Link, Mainland investors can trade the constituent stocks of the Hang Seng Composite LargeCap and MidCap Indexes, and all H-shares with corresponding A shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Trading is subject to aggregate and daily quotas. The Northbound Trading Link has an aggregate trading quota of RMB300 billion and a daily trading quota of RMB13 billion, while the Southbound Trading Link has an aggregate trading quota of RMB250 billion and a daily trading quota of RMB10.5 billion. It is not however possible to purchase IPO shares through Stock Connect.

The quotas apply on a “net buy” basis, meaning investors can always sell their cross-boundary securities regardless of the quota balance. Mainland investors are restricted to institutional investors and individuals holding RMB500,000 in cash & securities, whereas all Hong Kong and overseas investors are eligible for northbound trading.

A similar scheme to allow the mutual trading of shares between the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is expected to be launched in the future.

BENEFITS OF LISTING IN HONG KONG

Key advantages of Hong Kong as a listing venue are its established legal system based on English common law and its regulatory framework which is on a par with those in other international finance centres, which give investors confidence in the Hong Kong stock market. It also offers many tax advantages, currency convertibility, free transferability of securities and no restrictions on capital flow.

In addition to fund raising opportunities, Hong Kong offers foreign companies the chance to raise their profile and visibility in China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. This has proved particularly attractive to companies in the luxury goods sector and high profile companies such as Prada, Coach, L’Occitane and Samsonite have listed in Hong Kong in recent years.

China’s position as a major consumer of energy, minerals and metals has also attracted a number of mining and natural resource companies to list in Hong Kong. These include Swiss commodities giant Glencore International AG, Russia-based United Company Rusal PLC, Kazakhstan copper miner Kazakhmys PLC and Brazilian metals and mining company Vale S.A. Vale S.A was also the first company to list on the Exchange in the form of depositary receipts (DRs). The Exchange’s Listing Rules allow overseas companies to list on the Exchange’s Main Board (but not on its Growth Enterprise Market) in the form of DRs rather than ordinary shares. This is intended to allow the Hong Kong listing of companies from jurisdictions which restrict the movement of shares abroad or prohibit an overseas share register or splitting of the share register.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR RUSSIAN COMPANIES

Russian Law Requirements

Under Russian law, in order for a Russian company to list in Hong Kong, it must be incorporated as a public joint stock company (PJSC). The shares of PJSCs can only exist in uncertificated form, which means that Russian companies will need to list on the Main Board of the Exchange in the form of DRs. In addition, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), the Russian securities regulator, will only approve a Russian company’s offshore listing if it is already listed on a Russian stock exchange. The CBR also limits the number of shares which a Russian company can offer and/or trade offshore to 50% of the total number of shares offered in Russia. The total share capital which can be offered or traded outside Russia is also capped at 25% of the company’s total issued share capital (whether in the form of shares or depositary receipts).

Hong Kong Regulatory Requirements

The specific requirements for Russian listing applicants are set out in the Exchange’s “Country Guide for Russia”³ (Country Guide) which must be read in conjunction with the Joint Policy Statement Regarding the Listing of Overseas Companies⁴ (Joint Policy Statement) published by the Exchange and the SFC.

The Country Guide sets out a number of differences in the shareholder protection standards provided by Russian and Hong Kong laws and guidance on how Russian companies are expected to deal with these differences. In some cases, these differences will require a Russian company to make amendments to its constitutional documents and internal procedures. Others are dealt with by disclosure in the listing document. The overall aim is to ensure that investors in a Russian company listed on the Exchange will have substantially the same protections as investors in a Hong Kong company. The Country Guide provides guidance under the following headings:

• auditors’ remuneration;
• proceedings at general meetings: right to speak and vote at general meetings;
• proceedings at general meetings: the appointment of proxies or corporate representatives to attend general meetings;
• directors’ responsibility;
• shareholders’ approval of directors’ service contracts;
• notifiable transactions;
• connected transactions;
• depositary receipt programmes;
• share buy-backs;
• constitutional documents;
• accounting and auditing related requirements; and
• taxation.

A summary of the Country Guide’s requirements is set out in the Annex to this note. The Exchange is willing to consider granting waivers from strict compliance with the Listing Rules on notifiable and connected transactions provided that the company satisfies specified conditions for the approval of these transactions. Other waivers will be considered where the company can provide alternative measures to comply with the Guide’s requirements.

2016 Double Taxation Agreement

On 18 January 2016, Hong Kong and Russia signed an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (the Agreement). The Agreement will come into force when the ratification procedures are completed in Hong Kong and Russia. If the procedures are completed in 2016, the Agreement will come into force on 1 April 2017 in Hong Kong and 1 January 2017 in Russia.

The Agreement will provide the following key advantages for Hong Kong investors in Russian companies:

• Russia’s dividend withholding tax rate will be reduced from 15% to either 10% or 5%. The lower rate will apply where the beneficial owner of the dividends is a company which holds directly at least 15% of the company paying the dividends
• A 0% withholding tax rate will apply if the dividend is paid to the Hong Kong Government, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Exchange Fund or entities wholly or mainly owned by the Hong Kong Government that are mutually agreed upon by the competent authorities of Hong Kong and Russia; and
• for Hong Kong residents, capital gains derived from the disposal of shares in a Russian company will normally be exempt from Russian tax, except where the shares are in a company that derives more than 50% of its asset value from immovable property in Russia which are not listed on a stock exchange recognised by Russia and Hong Kong for this purpose.

The Agreement also provides for the sharing of information between the Hong Kong and Russian tax authorities in relation to taxes covered by the Agreement, although the information that can be shared is limited to what is relevant for carrying out the Agreement or for enforcing internal tax laws of Hong Kong or Russia. Shared information cannot be disclosed to any third jurisdiction.

THE EXCHANGE’S MARKETS

The Exchange operates two markets, the Main Board and the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). The Main Board caters for companies with a profitable operating track record or that are able to meet alternative financial standards. It is designed to give these companies an opportunity to raise further funds from the market in order to finance future growth. GEM, on the other hand, caters for smaller growth companies and has lower admission criteria. GEM also acts as a stepping stone to Main Board listing.

The post-listing obligations of GEM and Main Board listed companies are now broadly similar. The principal remaining difference is that quarterly reporting is mandatory for GEM companies, whilst for Main Board issuers it is a Recommended Best Practice only under the Corporate Governance Code.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS FOR LISTING ON THE MAIN BOARD

(a) Suitability for listing

The applicant must satisfy the Exchange that the applicant and its business are suitable for listing.

(b) Operating History and Management

A Main Board listing applicant must have a trading record period of at least 3 financial years with:

1. management continuity for at least the 3 preceding financial years; and
2. ownership continuity and control for at least the most recent audited financial year.

An exception exists for companies applying to list under the market capitalisation/revenue test (please see below). For these companies, the Exchange may accept a shorter trading record period under substantially the same management if the applicant can demonstrate that:

1. its directors and management have sufficient and satisfactory experience of at least 3 years in the line of business and industry of the new applicant; and
2. management continuity for the most recent audited financial year.

(c) Financial Tests

Main board listing applicants are required to satisfy one of 3 tests: the Profit Test; the Market Capitalisation/Revenue Test; or the Market Capitalisation/Revenue/Cash Flow Test.

The Profit Test (Rule 8.05(1)) requires the applicant or its group to have profits of at least HK$20 million in the most recent financial year and aggregate profits of at least HK$30 million in the two years before that. Such profit must exclude any income or loss of the applicant (or its group) generated by activities outside the ordinary and usual course of its business.

Applicants listing under the profits test must also have an expected market capitalisation at the time of listing of at least HK$200 million.

Under the Market Capitalisation/Revenue Test, an applicant with an expected market capitalisation at listing of at least HK$4 billion, will meet the financial requirement for listing if it has revenue of at least HK$500 million for the most recent audited financial year. This test is for larger listing applicants that are able to generate substantial revenue.

Under the Market Capitalisation/Revenue/Cash Flow Test there is no profit requirement for a listing applicant which has an expected market capitalisation at the time of listing of at least HK$2 billion. Instead the applicant must have:

1. at least HK$500 million in revenue for the most recent audited financial year; and
2. positive cash flow from operating activities of at least HK$100 million in aggregate for the three preceding financial years.

Financial Requirement Waivers

Mineral Companies

A new applicant Mineral Company that cannot satisfy the profit test, the market capitalisation/revenue/cash flow test or the market capitalisation/revenue test of Main Board Rule 8.05, may be accepted for listing if it establishes to the Exchange’s satisfaction that its directors and senior management, taken together, have a minimum of 5 years’ experience relevant to the exploration and/or extraction activity that the Mineral Company is pursuing. Details of such experience must be included in the applicant’s listing document.

A Mineral Company is a company for whom exploration for, and/or extraction of, natural resources such as metal ores, mineral concentrates, industrial minerals, mineral oils, natural gases or solid fuels account for 25% or more of the total assets, gross revenue or operating expenses of the company and its subsidiaries.

However, a pre-production stage company seeking a waiver needs to show a clear path to commercial production. The Exchange expects most companies seeking a waiver to be at the development stage, although companies which are in production are not necessarily precluded as they may have junior assets which are yet to be developed. Companies that are in production will however need to be able to show a clear path to profitability in order to be accepted for listing. Pure exploration companies are not considered suitable for listing.

Waivers for non-Mineral Companies

The Exchange may also accept a shorter trading record period and/or may vary or waive the financial standards requirements for:

1. newly formed “project” companies (for example a company formed to construct a major infrastructure project); or
2. in exceptional circumstances, if the applicant or its group has a trading record of at least two financial years and the Exchange is satisfied that the applicant’s listing is in the interests of the applicant and its investors.

Calculation of revenue

For both the Market Capitalisation/Revenue Test and the Market Capitalisation/Revenue/Cashflow Test, only revenue arising from the applicant’s principal activities and not items of revenue or gains arising incidentally will be recognised. Revenue from “book transactions” is disregarded.

(d) Shares in Public Hands

There must be an open market in the securities for which listing is sought. In general, this means that at least 25% (by number) of the listing applicant’s issued shares having an expected market capitalisation at the time of listing of at least HK$50 million, must be held by the public. Securities are not publicly held if they are owned by persons who are “core connected persons” of the issuer, persons whose securities have been financed by a core connected person, or persons accustomed to take instructions from a core connected person in relation to their shares. “Core connected persons” include directors, chief executives or substantial shareholders (i.e. holders of 10% of the voting power at general meetings) of a company or any of its subsidiaries or a close associate of any of them.

Where a listing applicant has more than one class of securities, the total securities of the listing applicant held by the public (on all regulated markets including the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) must be at least 25% (by number) of the applicant’s total issued shares. However, the class of securities for which listing is sought must not be less than 15% (by number) of the applicant’s total issued shares, and have an expected market capitalisation at the time of listing of not less than HK$50 million.

Where the DRs listed in Hong Kong are fungible with the underlying shares, the total shares and shares represented by DRs of the listing applicant held by the public on both the Exchange and any relevant overseas market(s) will count towards the 25% (Rule 19B.08).

Exchange’s Discretion to Accept Lower Public Float

For large companies, with an expected market capitalisation in excess of HK$10 billion, the percentage required to be in public hands, may, at the Exchange’s discretion, be lower (but not lower than 15%) provided that:

1. the Exchange is satisfied that the number of securities and their distribution will enable the market to operate properly with a lower percentage;
2. the issuer makes appropriate disclosure of the lower prescribed percentage of public float in the listing document;
3. the issuer confirms the sufficiency of public float in successive annual reports after listing; and
4. a sufficient proportion (to be agreed in advance with the Exchange) of any securities to be marketed contemporaneously in and outside Hong Kong, must normally be offered in Hong Kong.

This public float waiver is available only on initial listing. It cannot be applied for post-listing if the issuer subsequently satisfies the HK$10 billion market capitalisation requirement.

(e) Minimum Number of Shareholders at Time of Listing

Securities new to listing must have an adequate spread of shareholders. The number will depend on the size and nature of the issue, but there must be a minimum of 300 holders.

In addition, not more than 50% of the securities in public hands at the time of listing can be beneficially owned by the three largest public shareholders.

After listing, there is no requirement for a minimum number of shareholders. The issuer must however continue to comply with the minimum public float requirement.

(f) Market Capitalisation

The expected market capitalisation at the time of listing of a new applicant must be at least HK$200 million and the expected market capitalisation of the securities held by the public must be at least HK$50 million. If a listing applicant lists under the Market Capitalisation/Revenue/Cash Flow Test or Market Capitalisation/Revenue Test it must have an expected market capitalisation at the time of listing of HK$2 billion or HK$4 billion, respectively. Most companies at the time of initial flotation have a market capitalisation of around HK$200 million. Further issues of securities of a class already listed are not subject to this limit, and, in exceptional cases, a lower expected initial market capitalisation may be acceptable, although the Exchange will have to be satisfied as to the marketability of the securities.

(g) Working Capital Sufficiency

A listing applicant must have sufficient working capital for the group’s present requirements, that is for at least the next 12 months from the date of publication of the listing document.

Mineral Companies

A new applicant Mineral Company is required to demonstrate that it has sufficient working capital for 125% of the group’s requirements for the next 12 months including general, administrative and operating costs, property holding costs and the cost of any proposed exploration and/or development.

LISTING MINING AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANIES

The particular advantage of qualifying as a Mineral Company for a company seeking a Main Board listing is the opportunity to obtain a waiver from the requirement to meet the financial tests of Main Board Rule 8.05. A Mineral Company is a company whose Major Activities (whether directly or through a subsidiary company) include exploration for, and/or extraction of, natural resources such as minerals or petroleum. A Major Activity is one representing 25% or more of the total assets, gross revenue or operating expenses of the applicant and its subsidiaries.

As mentioned above, a Mineral Company will qualify for a waiver of the financial test requirements if it establishes to the Exchange’s satisfaction that its directors and senior management, taken together, have a minimum of 5 years’ experience relevant to the exploration and/or extraction activity that the Mineral Company is pursuing (Main Board Rule 18.04). Details of such experience must be included in the applicant’s listing document. Other key requirements that must be satisfied by a new applicant Mineral Company are set out below.

Portfolio of Indicated Resources or Contingent Resources Requirement

A new applicant Mineral Company is required to have at least a portfolio of Indicated Resources (in the case of minerals) or Contingent Resources (in the case of petroleum) that are identifiable under one of the accepted reporting standards and substantiated in the report of an independent expert (a Competent Person). The definition of Indicated Resources is based on the one in the 2004 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). The definition of Contingent Resources is based on the one in the Petroleum Resources Management System of September 2007 (PRMS). The portfolio is also required to be meaningful and of sufficient substance to justify a listing. We have been told informally that this requirement will be satisfied in the case of a Main Board listing applicant if the HK$200 million market capitalisation requirement will be met at the time of listing. Early stage exploration companies are thus not eligible for listing.

Rights of Active Participation

A new applicant Mineral Company must also be able to demonstrate that it has the right to actively participate in the exploration for and/or extraction of resources either through:

• control over a majority (by value) of the assets in which it has invested together with adequate rights over the exploration for and/or extraction of resources. This will normally be interpreted as an interest of more than 50%. Companies must also disclose full details of their exploration and/or extraction rights; or
• adequate rights arising under arrangements acceptable to the Exchange, which give it sufficient influence in decisions over the exploration for and/or extraction of the resources. Arrangements which may be acceptable include joint ventures, production sharing contracts or specific government mandates. The Exchange has stated that it will adopt a purposive approach to determining what is appropriate in specific circumstances and places the onus on applicants to demonstrate the adequacy of their rights and sufficiency of influence.

SECONDARY LISTING BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION

The Country Guide contemplates Russian companies seeking a secondary listing in Hong Kong and states that they will be entitled to certain automatic waivers from the Listing Rules subject to meeting the conditions set out in paragraph 88 of the Joint Policy Statement. Those conditions are that the secondary listing applicant: (i) has a market capitalisation of US$400 million or more; (ii) has been listed on its primary market for 5 years or more (unless its market capitalisation is significantly greater than US$400 million); (iii) has a good record of compliance with the rules and regulations of its home jurisdiction and primary market; and (iv) its primary listing is on a recognised exchange as listed in paragraph 91 of the Joint Policy Statement. However, the Moscow Stock Exchange is not currently included in the list of recognised exchanges and thus it is not clear whether the Exchange would be prepared to grant the full set of automatic waivers on a secondary listing of a Russian company.

Companies that are already primary listed on certain stock markets recognised by the Exchange can apply for a secondary listing by way of introduction on Hong Kong’s Main Board. Brazilian Vale SA’s Hong Kong listing is an example of a secondary listing by introduction of DRs. The Exchange’s key criteria for accepting a company for secondary listing is that the company is primarily listed on an exchange where the standards of shareholder protection are equivalent to those available in Hong Kong.

LISTING HONG KONG DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

The framework for listing DRs was introduced in July 2008 as part of the Exchange’s initiative to encourage the listing of more foreign companies on the Exchange. Prior to 2008, the Listing Rules required companies to list in the form of ordinary shares and to maintain a share register or a branch of their share register in Hong Kong. These requirements effectively barred the listing of companies from jurisdictions which prohibit the issue of shares overseas or the maintenance of an overseas share register. The DR regime was therefore introduced as a solution to this problem and was aimed in particular at encouraging the listing of companies from Russia, India, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Vietnam.

However, to date, only three companies have listed DRs on the Exchange and these were all secondary listings. These are: (i) Brazilian mining company, Vale which listed in Hong Kong in December 2010 – it is also listed on the stock exchanges of São Paulo, New York, Paris, and Madrid; (ii) American luxury handbag and accessories brand, Coach Inc. which listed in Hong Kong in December 2011 – its primary listing is on the New York Stock Exchange; and (iii) Japanese retail clothing business, Fast Retail-DRS whose primary listing is on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and which listed in Hong Kong in March 2014.

Listing Requirements for DR Issuers

The listing requirements for DR issuers are essentially the same as for issuers of shares – i.e. they must satisfy the listing criteria set out in Chapter 8 of the Listing Rules. Additional requirements specific to DRs must also be complied with and these are set out in Chapter 19B of the Main Board Listing Rules. The additional requirements that must be met by DR issuers are as follows:

(a) DR Requirements

The DRs must be freely transferable and the securities which the DRs represent must be fully paid and free from all liens and restriction on the right of transfer to the depositary. DRs may be issued in respect of newly issued shares and/or in respect of shares placed with a depositary by existing shareholders provided that the issuer applies to be the issuer of such depositary receipts and assumes the obligations and duties imposed on an issuer by the Listing Rules.

(b) Register of DRs

An approved share registrar is required to maintain in Hong Kong a register of DR holders and the transfers of the DRs. Only DRs registered in Hong Kong are permitted to be traded on the Exchange.

(c) Depositary

The depositary must: (a) be duly incorporated and operate in conformity with its constitutional documents; (b) be a suitably authorised and regulated financial institution acceptable to the Exchange; and (c) have adequate experience in issuing and managing DR programmes in Hong Kong or overseas. Depositaries do not require a depositary licence.

(d) Deposit Agreement

Issuers are required to enter into a Deposit Agreement with the depositary, which acts as the agent of the issuer for the benefit of the DR holders. The Deposit Agreement is required to stipulate the rights, duties and obligations of the depositary, issuer, DR holders, and custodian and to set out the fee structure of the depositary.

The Deposit Agreement must also define the procedures for the replacement or removal of the depositary and/or the custodian and should specify the procedures for amending the agreement. The governing law of the Deposit Agreement is required to be Hong Kong law or any other law that is generally used in accordance with international practice.

(e) Number of Authorised DRs

DRs seeking to list on the Main Board can represent any number of shares. To allow for future conversions of the underlying shares into DRs, the issuer may apply to list a greater number of DRs than will be issued for capital raising (i.e. it may apply for “headroom”). Any combination of DRs issued for capital raising or issued as a result of conversion of underlying shares will be permitted and listing approvals will be given for specific purposes and amounts.

No further application for listing DRs is required for the creation of listed DRs resulting from the conversion of shares into DRs. Similarly, no further listing of DRs is needed for any further issue of shares, provided that the original amount of listed DRs is not exceeded. The depositary will monitor the level of outstanding DRs on a day-to-day basis and will not permit shares to be converted into DRs if this would cause the number of authorised DRs to be exceeded. Listing must be sought for all further issues of DRs in excess of the amount of DRs already listed.

(f) Rights of DR Holders

The rights of DR holders are broadly equivalent, but not identical, to those of the underlying shareholders. The rights of DR holders are contractual and arise from the deposit agreement, whereas the rights of shareholders are reinforced by statute in the issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation. The local laws may prohibit foreign investors from holding shares directly: no such restriction will however apply to the DRs. Subject to compliance with local laws and regulations, DR holders who want to enforce their rights as shareholders may choose to convert their DRs into shares of the issuer.

As regards voting rights, the depositary will send information on resolutions and voting procedures to the DR holders and will pass the DR holders’ voting instructions back to the issuer.

RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING A NEW LISTING

(a) Moratorium on Disposal of Shares by Controlling Shareholders

The Listing Rules contain restrictions on the disposal of securities by controlling shareholders following a company’s new listing. Any person shown to be a controlling shareholder by the company’s listing document must not:

1. dispose of, or enter into any agreement to dispose of or otherwise create any options, rights, interests or encumbrances in respect of, any of the shares which the listing document shows to be beneficially owned by him during the period commencing on the date by reference to which disclosure of the shareholding of the controlling shareholder is made in the listing document and ending on the date which is 6 months from the date on which dealings in the applicant’s securities commence on the Exchange; or
2. dispose of, or enter into any agreement to dispose of or otherwise create any options, rights, interests or encumbrances in respect of, any of the shares which the listing document shows to be beneficially owned by him if, such disposal or the exercise or enforcement of such options, rights, interests or encumbrances, would result in him ceasing to be a controlling shareholder in the period of 6 months commencing on the date on which the period referred to in (i) above expires.

Offers for sale contained in a listing document are not subject to the above restrictions.

A controlling shareholder is allowed to purchase additional shares and to dispose of such shares during the relevant periods, provided that the minimum public shareholding requirement with respect to the issuer’s shares can be met.

(b) No further Issues of Shares within 6 Months of Listing

The Listing Rules prohibit further issues of shares or securities convertible into shares of a listed issuer or the entering into of any agreement for such an issue within 6 months from the date on which dealings in the issuer’s shares commence on the Exchange (whether or not such issue of shares or securities will be completed within 6 months from the commencement of dealings). There are exceptions for:

1. the issue of shares pursuant to a share option scheme under Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules;
2. the exercise of conversion rights attaching to warrants issued as part of the IPO;
3. any capitalisation issue, capital reduction or consolidation or sub-division of shares; and
4. the issue of shares or securities pursuant to an agreement entered into before the commencement of dealing and disclosed in the issuer’s listing document.

(c) Restriction on Fundamental Change in the Nature of Business

In the 12 months following listing, an issuer may not effect any acquisition, disposal or other transaction or arrangement (or series thereof) which would result in a fundamental change in the principal business activities of the listed issuer as described in its listing document. The Exchange may however grant a waiver from this restriction if the circumstances are exceptional and the transaction is approved by a resolution of the issuer’s independent shareholders (any controlling shareholder, or if none any chief executive or directors, and their associates must abstain from voting in favour).

THE LISTING PROCESS

(a) Appointment of a Sponsor

A company applying to list on the Exchange must appoint one or more sponsors to assist it. Only corporate finance advisers licensed by the SFC to conduct sponsor work are permitted to act as sponsors. The sponsor must also be independent of the applicant from the date of submission of the listing application until the date of listing and must comply strictly with the Listing Rules relating to sponsors.

The sponsor is responsible for preparing the issuer for listing, the submission of the application for listing and for dealing with the Exchange on all matters concerning the application.

Additionally, the sponsor must be satisfied that the new issuer is suitable to be listed, that the information contained in the prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects and that the issuer’s directors will be able to honour their obligations under the Listing Rules post-listing.

(b) Applying to List

The sponsor will submit to the Exchange the listing application form (Form A1), a draft of the listing document which is substantially complete except in relation to information which can only be incorporated at a later date (the Application Proof), all supporting documents and the listing application fee. A listing application must be submitted at least two months after the signing of the sponsor engagement letter, and if there is more than one sponsor, two months after the date the last sponsor to be appointed signed the engagement letter.

On applying to list, the Application Proof of the listing document is required to be published on the website of the Exchange. The information contained in the Application Proof, the Form A1 and other documents submitted with Form A1 is required to be substantially complete, except for information that, by its nature, can only be finalised and included at a later date. If the Exchange does not consider the information to be substantially complete, it will return the listing application and all other documents to the sponsor. If an application is returned, the Exchange will publish on its website the names of the listing applicant and its sponsor(s) and the date of its decision to return the listing application (Return Decision). It will also refund the initial listing fee unless it returns the listing application after issuing its first comment letter, in which case the initial listing fee will be forfeited. The applicant can resubmit the Form A1 and a new Application Proof, but cannot do so until 8 weeks after the date of the Return Decision.

The requirement for the Application Proof to be substantially complete when it is submitted to the Exchange with the listing application means that the sponsor’s due diligence process has to be front loaded, in that it should be completed before the submission of the listing application. The directors of the listing applicant are responsible for ensuring that the information in the Application Proof (and the final form listing document) is accurate and complete in all material respects and is not misleading or deceptive.

Listing Process for Main Board

The following chart summarises the process for a listing application for shares on the Main Board:

Annex: Comparison of Russian Law and Hong Kong Regulation in relation to Shareholder Protection

The Exchange does not regard Russian shareholder protection standards as materially different to those of Hong Kong, subject to Russian issuers demonstrating how the practice set out below conforms to the Joint Policy Statement requirements.

The Exchange’s approach to dealing with such differences is as follows:

Auditors’ remuneration

Proceedings at general meetings: Right to speak and vote at general meetings

Proceedings at general meetings: Appoint proxies or corporate representatives to attend general meetings

Practical and Operational Matters

Conflicts with Hong Kong’s rules and regulations

Under the Joint Policy Statement, overseas issuers are advised to consult the Exchange in cases of potential conflict between the laws and regulations of the issuer’s home jurisdiction and Hong Kong’s Listing Rules or The Codes on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Buy-backs (Takeovers Code).

The Exchange’s approach to dealing with potential conflicts between Russian laws and regulations and the Listing Rules and Takeovers Code is as follows:

Directors’ Responsibility

Shareholders’ approval of directors’ service contracts

Notifiable Transactions

Connected Transactions

Depositary Receipt Programmes

Share Buy-backs

Constitutional Documents

Russian rules and regulations do not include provisions equivalent to all of Hong Kong’s Listing Rules regarding the contents of constitutional documents. Some of the items that a Russian issuer should include in its constitutional documents so as to satisfy Hong Kong’s requirements are set out below:

Accounting and Auditing Related Requirements

Taxation

March 2016

This note is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to any particular situation. This note has been prepared based on the laws and regulations in force at the date of this note which may be subsequently amended, modified, re-enacted, restated or replaced.