• Prospectus and eligibility letter submitted for approval by the UKLA
• Underwriting agreement (including representations, indemnity and lock-up of selling shareholders)
• Lock-up letters of other shareholders, if required by underwriters
• Comfort letters from auditors
• Legal opinions
• For premium listings, if the Company has a controlling shareholder¹, a relationship agreement with that shareholder including minimum prescribed undertakings

• Prospectus
• Registration statement (Form F-1) to be filed with SEC
• NYSE listing agreement
• Underwriting agreement (including representations, indemnity and lock-up by selling shareholders)
• Lock-up letters of other shareholders, if required by underwriters
• Comfort letters
• Legal opinions
• Depository Agent and related registration statement (Form F-6) for DR program

• Advance booking form (Form A1)
• Prospectus
• Underwriting agreement (including representations, indemnity and lock-up of selling shareholders)
• Lock-up undertakings of controlling shareholders²
• Comfort letters
• Legal opinions
• Written submission on any proposed connected transactions after listing and waiver application (if any) – please see Exhibit B
• Receiving banker agreement (agreement with receiving bank relating to retail tranche)
• Registrar agreement
• adviser agreement

• A sponsor independent of the listing applicant must be appointed from the outset of the listing process
• The Sponsor must provide confirmations to the UKLA as to the applicant’s suitability and as part of this process will require various forms of comfort letter from the Company, its directors, the auditors and legal counsel
• Sponsors are also required in various circumstances following the listing, including where a significant transaction or related party transaction is contemplated

• A sponsor independent of the listing applicant is required at least two months before the date of submission of the Form A1 until the listing date
• The role of the sponsor includes filing the formal application for listing (and all supporting documents) on behalf of the applicant and dealing with the HKSE on all matters arising in connection with the application
• Additionally, the sponsor must be satisfied that the applicant is suitable to be listed, that the information contained in the prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects and that the applicant’s directors will be able to honor their obligations under the Listing Rules post-listing

Company’s specific disclosure obligations in the Prospectus are governed by the Listing Rules and the Prospectus Rules.

The Prospectus must include:

• a summary
• risk factors
• operating and financial review (covering financial condition and operating results), capital resources and trends
• if issuer has a “complex financial history” or a “significant financial commitment” has been made, then, in addition to the historical financial information noted above, further financial reports, including proforma financial statements, may be required
• (for share prospectuses only) a statement that the Group has sufficient working capital for at least the next 12 months
• (for share prospectuses only) a statement of capitalisation and indebtedness dated no later than 90 days prior to the prospectus
• a responsibility statement by the Company and its Directors (by the Company only if a DR prospectus)
• history and development
• group activities (principal activities and markets, employees, investments, licenses)
• management information, remuneration and benefits, board practices
• individual director shareholdings
• major shareholdings
• detail on any direct or indirect owner / controller, the nature of the control and arrangements to avoid abuse of that control (see “Controlling Shareholders” below in relation to premium listings)
• related party transactions
• information on the shares/DRs
• material litigation
• material contracts
• plan of distribution
• for specialist issuers, further reports may be required – for example a mineral company would be required to include a “Mineral Expert’s Report” and specific disclosures on reserves and resources

The Company’s specific disclosure obligations in the Prospectus are governed by the requirements set forth in the Form F-1 Registration Statement (which incorporates many of the requirements of the Form 20-F).

The Prospectus must include:

• risk factors
• selected financial information for 5 years
• information regarding the offering, use of proceeds, dividends, capitalization
• operating and financial review, covering period to period review of operating results, liquidity and capital resources, trends, off-balance sheet financings
• market risk
• description of the business, including litigation, employees, regulation and competition
• management information, including aggregate (unless otherwise disclosed individually) remuneration and benefits and board practices
• related party transactions
• major beneficial shareholders (covering beneficial owners of at least 5% of outstanding shares, or, if less, those who have notifiable interests under local law)
• information on the capital stock
• tax consequences of the offering
• plan of distribution
• material contracts filed as exhibits
• for specialist issuers, such as property casualty insurance companies, oil and gas companies and mining companies, further disclosure may be required

The Company’s specific disclosure obligations in the Prospectus are governed by the HK Listing Rules, in particular Part A of Appendix 1.

Generally, Part A of Appendix 1 requires the following:

• general information about the Company, its advisers and the Prospectus
• information about the securities for which listing is sought and the terms and conditions of their issue and distribution
• information about the Company’s authorised and issued share capital
• general information about the activities of the corporate group of which the Company is a member
• commentary on the Group’s liquidity, financial resources and capital structure
• information on general business trends
• financial information about the Group and the prospects of the Group³
• information about the Company’s management
• use of the proceeds of the public offering
• material contracts and documents for inspection
• interests and short positions of each director and chief executive of the Company in the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company or any associated corporation which will have to be notified to the Company and the HKSE under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the “SFO”)
• interests and short positions of each person, other than a director or chief executive of the Company, in the DRs and underlying shares of the Company which would fall to be disclosed to the Company and the HKSE under the SFO
• valuation report on the Company’s interests in real property, subject to certain carrying amount thresholds
• information in respect of the Company’s pension schemes

Audited financial information for three years, and unaudited information covering first six months of year if prospectus is dated more than 9 months after end of last fiscal year, together with comparative information from the prior year. Needs to be U.S. GAAP or IFRS as issued by IASB (otherwise reconciliation to U.S. GAAP required).

For “emerging growth companies” (companies having less than $1 billion in revenues), the U.S. JOBS Act allows companies to elect to include only two years’ of historical financial information, not three.

• A Prospectus must contain all such information as is necessary to enable investors to make an informed assessment of the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and losses, and prospects of the issuer the rights attaching to the securities to be issued.(87A U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”))

• S. Rule 10b-5 and other similar anti-fraud rules – Prospectus must not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
• Generally, information is deemed to be material if there is a substantial likelihood that a “reasonable” investor would consider it important in making an investment decision

• The underwriters typically require that for a particular period following listing the Company and certain key shareholders be prevented from selling shares (180 days is the customary period)
• In addition, under the HK Listing Rules, controlling shareholder must undertake not to dispose of or otherwise create any options, rights, interests or encumbrances in respect of its interest in the Company, from the date of the Prospectus until six months after the listing date
• A controlling shareholder must undertake not to dispose of or otherwise create any options, rights, interests or encumbrances in respect of its interest in the Company if such disposal would result in its ceasing to be a controlling shareholder during the six-month period after the expiry of the period referred to in the point above
• A controlling shareholder must undertake to the Company and the HKSE to disclose any pledge or charge of any securities beneficially owned by it, from the date of disclosure of its shareholding in the Prospectus until 12 months after the listing date

• The underwriters will require a “comfort letter” to be provided from the Company’s accountants giving comfort as to the financial information contained in the Prospectus
• Under U.S. comfort letter rules, comfort letter may be dated no more than 135 days after the date of the most recent audited financial statements or interim period review (may not apply if no U.S. tranche is planned)
• In a premium listing, the Sponsor will require a “long form report” analyzing various financial and business matters relating to the Company; a report on the Company’s financial reporting procedures (“FRP”) and a working capital analysis to support the Company’s working capital statement

• The underwriters will require a “comfort letter” to be provided from the Company’s accountants giving comfort as to the financial information contained in the Prospectus
• Under U.S. comfort letter rules, comfort letter may be dated no more than 135 days after the date of the most recent audited financial statements or interim period review

• The underwriters will require a “comfort letter” to be provided from the Company’s accountants giving comfort as to certain financial information contained in the Prospectus
• In addition, a comfort letter from the sponsor (financial adviser) on any profit forecasts and the sufficiency of the Company’s working capital may also be required
• Under U.S. comfort letter rules, comfort letter may be dated no more than 135 days after the date of the most recent audited financial statements or interim period review (may not apply if no U.S. tranche is planned)

• Minimum market capitalisation £700,000
• Need free float of at least 25% of the listed securities (in public hands in the EEA)
• Adhere to the UKLA’s two Listing Principles (including maintenance of adequate procedures and internal controls to enable it to comply with its listing obligations) and six Premium Listing Principles
• Comply with the U.K. Corporate Governance Code or explain any instances of non-compliance
• Provide pre-emption rights equivalent to those in the U.K. Companies Act 2006
• At least 75% of the applicant’s business is supported by a three year historic earning revenue (subject to exceptions for certain “specialist” issuers such as mineral companies)
• Must be carrying on an independent business as its main activity (see “Controlling Shareholders” below)
• The shares must be freely transferable (subject only to lock-ups, etc.)
• The shares must be eligible for electronic settlement

• Minimum market capitalisation £700,000
• Need free float of at least 25% of the listed securities (in public hands in the EEA) – for DRs, this is assessed by reference to the portion of share capital represented by DRs rather than the total share capital
• Adhere to the UKLA’s two Listing Principles (including maintenance of adequate procedures and internal controls to enable it to comply with its listing obligations)
• Not subject to the U.K. Corporate Governance Code
• The securities must be freely transferable (subject only to lock-ups, etc.)
• For DRs, the listing amount represents no more than the total amount of issued share capital (usually “up to” listing of amount to give headroom for future issuances)

• Minimum quantitative requirements, which vary depending on expected size and structure of the transaction (no public float requirements, although distribution requirements will need to be met)
• Qualitative requirements, including adherence to minimum shareholder meeting/annual report requirements, public disclosure requirements and corporate governance requirements of the listing rules. The principal corporate governance requirements applicable to a non-U.S. company listed on NYSE are:
• to disclose (in English, in its Annual Report on Form 20-F) any significant differences between the Company’s corporate governance practices and those required of U.S. companies listed on NYSE
• to have an audit committee that satisfies the independence and responsibility requirements established pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), discussed below
• to have an independent compensation committee (although foreign private issuers are allowed to follow local requirements)
• to notify NYSE of any material non-compliance with the provisions of any NYSE corporate governance standards that do apply to the Company

• Meet one of three financial criteria: the profit test⁵; the market capitalisation/revenue test⁶; or the market capitalisation/revenue/ cashflow test⁷
• Have a trading record of at least three financial years and management continuity for at least the three pervious financial years under substantially the same management
• Have ownership continuity and control for at least the most recent audited financial year
• Has a market capitalisation of at least HK$200 million at the time of listing
• Maintain at all times a minimum public float of 25% of the Company’s total issued share capital⁸
• Shares of at least HK$50 million held by the public at the time of listing
• Have a minimum of 300 shareholders
• No more than 50% of the securities comprising the public float at the time of listing can be owned by the three largest public shareholders
• The public tranche must be fully underwritten
• In the event of over-subscription, there have to be specific restrictions on the basis of allocation within the public subscription tranche and the claw back mechanism between the placing tranche and the public subscription tranche

• Annual Report, including annual consolidated financial statements and management report be prepared in accordance with UKLA Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTRs) and in accordance with IFRS or equivalent and published with four months of financial year end
• For premium listed companies, there are additional prescribed contents for the annual report, including a statement of compliance with the U.K. Corporate Governance Code and details of director remuneration
• A non-U.K. listed company must disclose in its annual report and accounts whether the company is in compliance with its home country’s governance rules
• All companies with a share listing must publish an interim half-year financial statements (which may be unaudited) together with an interim management report within two months of the half-year end. These requirements do not apply to companies with a DR listing
• New rules are expected to be introduced later in 2014 to require oil and gas, mining and logging companies to disclose on an annual basis payments made to governments in the preceding financial year

• Form 20-F Annual Report – must be filed (in English) within 4 months of year end, requiring the Company to disclose annual audited financial information, as well as additional information, such as:
  • a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP (unless financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by IASB)
  • operating and financial review
  • information regarding the business
  • risk factors
  • information regarding management, including disclosure of aggregate executive compensation
  • information on related party transactions
  • disclosure of whether the Company has a code of ethics applicable to its senior financial officers and principal executive officers and, if not, why not
  • disclosure of fees paid to auditors and other auditor and board related matters
  • statement regarding the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” and any changes in the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting”
  • management report on the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting”, together with the Section 404 auditor attestation on that report⁹
• Officer Certifications – the CEO and CFO must sign certifications (302 certifications) in connection with the annual report, certifying as to, among other things:
  • the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures”
  • the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting”
  • that the annual report does not contain any untrue statement or omission of a material fact and fairly presents the Company’s financial condition and results of operation
• Separate CEO and CFO certifications are required in reports containing financial statements (906 certification). Breach of the relevant provisions carry criminal liability
• Form SD: Beginning in 2014, companies using “conflict minerals” (including tantalum, tin, gold or tungsten) that originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country must disclose such use in a new Form SD; also, resource extraction issuers – companies engaged in the development of oil, natural gas, or minerals – must disclose payments to governments beginning with fiscal years ending after September 30, 2013

• In respect of each financial year, either (a) an annual report (including an auditor’s report) or (b) a summary financial report, not less than 21 days before the date of the Company’s annual general meeting and in any event within four months after the end of the relevant financial year
• In respect of the first six months of each financial year, either (a) an interim report or (b) a summary interim report, within three months after the end of such six-month period, all of which comply with Appendix 16 to the Listing Rules or the Companies (Summary Financial Reports of Listed Companies) Regulation, as the case may be
• Quarterly reporting is not mandatory, although it is a recommended best practice under the Code on Corporate Governance Practices

• Takeover Code. Applies to listed Companies incorporated in the U.K. and Channel Islands. Similar rules apply to companies incorporated in other EU jurisdictions by virtue of the EU Takeover Directive (in some cases, the U.K. Takeover Code may apply in part to such companies if their sole listing is in the U.K.). Not a legal requirement for other companies, although institutional investors may prefer listed companies incorporated outside the U.K./EU to adopt similar provisions in the Company’s articles or by laws to ensure equal treatment of shareholders (though not customary for DR issuers)
• U.K. Companies Act. Not applicable to non-U.K. companies although premium listed companies must include pre-emption rights equivalent to the U.K. Companies Act in their charter and are subject to restrictions on raising new capital on a non-pre-emptive basis

• Tender offer rules. U.S. tender offer rules apply if > 10% of shares are held by U.S. persons. These rules regulate communications, disclosure, timing, withdrawal, equal treatment of shareholders and responses by a target corporation in a tender offer
• No securities law pre-emptive rights apply to future issuances of stock for cash
• No securities law approval requirements for significant transactions
• Issuance of stock in M&A transactions may require SEC registration, unless exempt, and shareholder approval under NYSE rules for major issuances

• Transactions with the Company must comply with the Takeovers Code
• Also please see Exhibit A in respect of notifiable transactions

• Inside Information – must disclose “inside information” through market announcements service “as soon as possible”
• Can delay publication of “inside information” in very limited circumstances (negotiations, prejudice to Company’s legitimate interests), but only where no danger of the information leaking
• Selective disclosure of “inside information” only permitted in very limited circumstances (not, for example, to analysts)
• Whatever information is made public in home jurisdiction, to the extent it is “inside information”, must also be simultaneously released in London
• Must maintain “insider” lists of those with access to the Company’s inside information
• Need internal systems and controls to enable compliance with all the above

• Form 6-K – must be filed with the SEC upon disclosure in home jurisdiction of material information
• Rule 10b-5 generally restricts selective disclosure or insider trading by the Company or its directors and senior officers

Obligation to disclose inside information – The Company must, as soon as reasonably practicable after any inside information has come to its knowledge, disclose the information to the public.

General obligation of disclosure – Where the Exchange considers that there is or is likely to be a false market in the Company’s securities, the Company must, as soon as reasonably practicable after consultation with the Exchange, announce the information necessary to avoid a false market in its securities.

• Shareholdings – Disclose changes in significant shareholdings (thresholds of 3% and every 1% thereafter)
• Share Dealings – Disclose dealings by directors or persons discharging managerial responsibilities (“PDMRs”)
• Model Code – Directors and PDMRs must comply with the “Model Code” on share dealings, which sets blackout periods and other restrictions on dealings
• Significant transactions: based on “class tests”:
  • Any class 1 transaction – where the consideration, gross assets, profits, reserves or gross capital (or proven and probable reserves for a mineral company) of the target equals or exceeds 25% of the equivalent measure in the company – or reverse takeover requires preparation of a circular approved by The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and obtaining of shareholder approval
  • Class 2 transactions (where the ratio exceeds 5% but is less than 25%) must be announced
• Related Party Transactions ‑ require notification, confirmation that the transaction is fair and reasonable (as advised by a sponsor) and, for larger transactions, shareholder approval, subject to de minimis exceptions
• Share Buybacks: The purchase by the Company of its own securities is proscribed during any prohibited period (periods prior to the publication of financial results), and the purchase of equity shares must be made by tender offer unless the offer relates to less than 15% of outstanding shares of that class (or the full terms have been specifically approved by shareholders) and the offer price is within a prescribed price range determined by reference to recent LSE trading prices. Safe harbour from Market Abuse Rules also available for share repurchases

• Shareholdings – For companies with a share listing, disclose significant shareholdings (see “Premium Listings” opposite, with non-UK standard listed companies required to disclose at thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50% and 75% ). These rules are not mandatory for companies with a DR listing
• Share Dealings – For companies with a share listing, disclose dealings by directors or PDMRs (see “Premium Listings” opposite). These rules are not mandatory for companies with a DR listing although are sometimes observed
• Filing requirements for changes to charter and notifications of changes in capital
• Not required to comply with “Model Code” on share dealings, but often followed as measure of best practices since the market abuse regime applies to dealings in listed DRs
• No specific rules on buybacks of DRs although market abuse considerations apply and companies will often seek to follow the safe harbour available for share buybacks

• Internal control and “anti-bribery” laws – listed companies are subject to the internal control requirements and restrictions on unlawful payments to foreign governmental officials contained in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other Exchange Act provisions
• Auditor Independence – strict requirements to ensure auditor independence
• Attorney Reporting Requirements – the Company’s attorneys (outside and inside counsel) may be required to report any evidence of a material violation of securities laws, a breach of fiduciary duty or a similar violation by the Company or its directors, officers or employees “up the ladder” within the Company, including to the CEO and the Board
• Prohibition on Loans – the Company cannot directly or indirectly make loans (or extend credit of any kind) to a director or executive officer
• Disgorgement of Bonuses and Other Incentive Compensation if the Company is forced to restate financials
• Blackout Periods on trading by insiders during employee benefit plan blackout periods
• NYSE reporting – NYSE requires timely disclosure of material information that may affect the market for the Company’s securities

• Response to HKSE’s enquiries – Companies must respond promptly to any enquiries from the HKSE
• Disclosure of notifiable transactions, connected transactions, takeovers and share purchases as required by Chapters 14 and 14A of the Listing Rules – please refer to Exhibits A and B
• Sufficient operations – Companies must maintain sufficient operations or have assets of sufficient value to warrant the continued listing of the Company’s shares
• Public float – Companies must maintain the prescribed public float
• Pre-emptive rights – Companies must obtain shareholders’ consent before issuing securities
• Comply with rules relating to shareholder and board meetings
• Comply with rules relating to distribution of financial information
• Review of documents –Companies must submit announcements, circulars and other shareholder or public communications to the HKSE for review if they fall within the scope of the Listing Rules
• Material change in the nature of the Company’s business –within the first 12 months after the listing date, the Company cannot make any acquisition or disposal which would result in a fundamental change in its principal business activities as described in the Prospectus, unless the circumstances are exceptional and prior approval of the independent shareholders has been obtained

• The U.K. Corporate Governance Code recommends that the Chairman be independent (and not fulfil the role of CEO) and a majority of the board comprise independent non-executive directors (“INEDs”)
• The size of the board should be proportionate to the size of the Company although at least three INEDs will be required to follow the recommendations on board committees summarised below

• Audit committee requirements (discussed below) effectively mean that at least 3 directors must be “independent”
• Other market-driven “best practices” may also be necessary

• Independent non-executive directors must constitute one-third of the Company’s board, of which at least one such director must have appropriate professional qualifications or accounting or related financial management expertise
• The Company must have sufficient management presence in Hong Kong¹⁰

• Audit Committee – the board should establish an audit committee of at least three independent non-executive directors, including one director with relevant experience, to monitor and review the effectiveness of the internal audit activities and making recommendations to the board in relation to the external auditor’s appointment
• Nomination Committee – the nomination committee, comprising a majority of independent non-executive directors, should lead the process for board appointments and make recommendations to the board.

Remuneration Committee – the remuneration committee should comprise at least three independent non-executive directors to set remuneration for executive directors and monitor senior management remuneration

• A U.K. company with a standard share listing must maintain an audit committee (and, from 2016, all listed companies incorporated in the EU must maintain an audit committee)
• Currently no requirements for DR issuers, although it is customary to establish at least an audit committee

• Audit Committee – the Company must have an independent audit committee (with at least 3 “independent” members of the Board (as defined under the Exchange Act), including an audit committee financial expert satisfying specific criteria, (or disclosure of why it does not have such an expert in place) responsible for appointing and overseeing the Company’s independent auditor, pre-approving auditor services and establishing procedures to receive and respond to complaints related to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters
• Compensation Committee – As required by the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act, companies must have an independent compensation committee with sole authority to engage outside compensation consultants, but foreign private issuers are allowed to follow home-country requirements, so long as differences are disclosed

• Audit Committee – (a) minimum three members; (b) all non-executive directors with a majority of independent non-executive directors; (c) at least one is an independent non-executive director with appropriate professional qualifications or accounting or related financial management expertise; and (d) chaired by an independent non-executive director
• Remuneration Committee – the Company must set up a remuneration committee with specific terms of reference, and the committee is to be chaired by, and the majority of members are to be, independent non-executive directors

• Disclosure Controls and Procedures – The Company is required to have “disclosure controls and procedures” designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by an issuer in its SEC reports (including material non-financial information, as well as financial information) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely fashion
• Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – The Company must also maintain “internal control over financial reporting” – a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the CEO and CFO and effected by the board and management to provide the Company with reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
• Disclosure – the Company must review and disclose the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures in the CEO and CFO certification and of its internal control over financial reporting in a report to be included in the annual report, attested to by its outside auditors (each discussed above)

• Compliance adviser – The Company must appoint a compliance adviser acceptable to the HKSE from the listing date until its first financial year’s results are published. The compliance adviser must be licensed or registered under the SFO to conduct business as a sponsor (financial adviser)
• Internal Control – Under the Code, the board and the audit committee must conduct an annual review of the adequacy of the resources, qualifications and experience of the Company’s accounting department. If the Company does not comply with the Code, it has to provide an explanation in its financial reports

• Detail must be given of any director or indirect owner / controller and the nature of the control
• In order to be eligible to list, a company with a controlling shareholder must be able to demonstrate that it carries on an independent business as its main activity (based on a non-exhaustive list of determining factors)
• Such companies must also enter into an agreement containing minimum prescribed undertakings from the controlling shareholder and report on compliance with such undertakings
• The election of independent directors by a company with a controlling shareholder requires a dual voting process, including a separate vote of independent shareholders

• Company and Directors responsible for contents of a share prospectus (Company only for a DR prospectus)
• The Company, directors and other officers, any selling shareholders or controlling persons and financial advisers are potentially liable for criminal and civil penalties in connection with an offering
• Duty to compensate investors who suffer loss as result of misleading information or omission of information from the Prospectus (including investors who buy in the after-market)
• Defense of reasonable belief (after enquiries) that statement is true, i.e. due diligence defence
• S.89 and S.90 Financial Services Act 2012: criminal offence for a person to (i) make, either knowingly or recklessly, misleading statements for the purpose of inducing another person to buy, sell, subscribe for or underwrite investments or (ii) or engage in any course of conduct which creates a false or misleading impression as to the market in, or the price or value of, any investments
• Insider Dealing – Criminal Justice Act 1993 (“CJA”): Subject to certain defences, a person who has inside information commits a criminal offence under the CJA if he:
  • deals in price-affected securities;
  • encourages another person to deal in price-affected securities; or
  • discloses inside information otherwise than in the proper performance of the functions of his employment, office or profession

Contravention is a criminal offence carrying a penalty of up to 7 years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine

• 118 FSMA – Market Abuse is a civil offence and is designed to prevent any behaviour which is damaging to the markets
• The FCA may take action against a person who has engaged in abusive conduct or who has required or encouraged another person to do so and can lead to an unlimited financial penalty and public censure
• Breach of continuing obligations of disclosure can lead to private warning, public censure of the Company / directors, fines of the Company / directors, suspension or cancellation of listing
• Statutory liability to compensate investors for loss suffered to the extent information published pursuant to continuing obligations is misleading (or in the event of delay in publishing inside information) if management had actual knowledge or was reckless with respect thereto

• Strict Liability – the Company has strict liability for material misstatements or omissions made in the registration statement for the offering
• Due Diligence Defence – officers, directors and controlling persons have a “due diligence” defence for liability on the registration statement
• Periodic Reporting Liability – the Company, its officers and directors, and any controlling persons, may be liable for material misstatements and omissions made in the Company’s ongoing Exchange Act reports, as well as other public announcements made by the Company
• Sarbanes-Oxley Liability – Sarbanes-Oxley introduced new crimes, penalties for securities violations (civil and criminal) increased, statutes of limitations increased

• Directors and other officers, any selling shareholders or controlling persons and financial advisers are potentially liable for criminal and civil penalties for any inaccurate or misleading information, or any material omissions, in the Prospectus. They may also be liable to compensate investors who have suffered resultant losses, including investors who buy in the secondary market:
  • Listing Rules: a Prospectus must contain a responsibility statement, to the effect that the directors accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the information in the prospectus and confirm, after having made all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge and belief, no material facts have been omitted
  • Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance s40: imposes civil liability for any untrue statement or material omission in a Prospectus on: directors, promoters¹¹ and every person “who has authorised the issue of the prospectus”
  • Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance s40A: imposes criminal liability for any untrue statement or material omission in a Prospectus on “any person who has authorised” its issue
  • Securities and Futures Ordinance s108: imposes civil liability for misrepresentation, and is wide enough to cover misstatements in a Prospectus
• Under the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, it is not clear whether the Company itself has liability for inaccuracies and omissions in the Prospectus.
• Defences include the due diligence defence, i.e. a reasonable belief that the relevant statement was true at the time the Prospectus was issued
• The Listing Committee may suspend or cancel a listing or reprimand or censure the Company, its directors, substantial shareholders, sponsors or compliance advisers

Ability to De-list:

• The Company must send an FCA-approved circular to shareholders and obtain approval (75%) at a general shareholders’ meeting, giving at least 20 business days’ notice
• If the Company has one or more controlling shareholders, it is also required to obtain the approval of a majority of the vote attached to the shares of independent shareholders voting on the resolution
• The same requirements apply if a company with a premium listing wishes to move to a standard listing

• The Company should maintain sufficient operations or have assets of sufficient value to warrant the continued listing of the Company’s shares
• The HKSE may de-list the Company if its securities have been suspended for a prolonged period
• The issuer may request or the HKSE may direct a “trading halt” which is an interruption of trading (of no more than 2 trading days) in an issuer’s securities, pending disclosure of information under the HKSE Rules¹²
• An issuer may withdraw its listing if:
  • after a general offer, a right to compulsory acquisition is exercised and all the issuer’s listed securities are acquired; or
  • it is privatised under the Takeovers Code
• An issuer which is listed only on the HKSE may withdraw its listing if:
  • approved by at least 75% of the votes attaching to any class of listed securities;
  • not disapproved by more than 10% of the votes attaching to any class of listed securities; and
  • shareholders and security holders are offered a reasonable alternative
• An issuer with a primary listing on the HKSE and a secondary listing on an exchange approved by the HKSE may withdraw its listing if:
  • approved by an ordinary resolution of shareholders;
  • approved by the holders of any other class of listed securities; and
  • the issuer has given its shareholders and security holders at least three months’ notice of the proposed withdrawal
• An issuer with a secondary listing on the HKSE may withdraw its listing if:
  • it has complied with the laws of the jurisdiction of its primary listing; and
  • it has given its shareholders at least three months’ notice of the proposed withdrawal

Consideration

ratio

Equity capital

ratio[14]