As the introduction of weighted voting rights (WVR) and pre-revenue companies’ listings get nearer in Hong Kong, I see an opportune time for a quick take on the types of companies that the exchange — which is probably the most volatile of the world’s major primary markets — readily allows.
Last month, in the wake of the appointment of Hong Kong’s new leader, the city’s securities regulator, the Securities & Futures Commission, issued a statement on the listing of infrastructure project companies, particularly in relation to the Belt and Road initiative. read
To many, the 85% collapse in the share price of China Huishan Dairy Holdings Co on March 24 came as a complete surprise. With now all of the company’s non-executive directors having tendered their resignations (in the process also effectively wiping out Huishan’s audit committee), the company’s key treasury executive still missing, and the controlling shareholder seemingly heading for the exit amid talk of margin calls, the milk producer’s short stint as a public company increasingly looks like a horror story. read
The filing of form S-1, the draft registration statement for the proposed $3bn New York IPO of Snap, the $25bn parent company of messaging app Snapchat, was full of surprises — not all of them good for investors. If anything, it also showed that Hong Kong will, most likely, never be able to compete with the US exchanges when it comes to listing unicorns. read
The recent news that UBS was being investigated by Hong Kong’s SFC in connection with its work as IPO sponsor in the city has taken the local financial community by storm, not least because of the very real possibility that the firm may loose its corporate finance licence – at least for a period of time. read
Just a few weeks apart, announcements were recently made by the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX) and Singapore’s SGX respectively about changes to front line regulatory functions they perform. The approaches under these proposals couldn’t have been more different. read
As Hong Kong IPOs start to make a timid comeback after a long summer lull, I unearthed an interesting working paper entitled “IPO sponsors and prospectus liability: the bridge too far?”, published in August by the Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL) of the University of Hong Kong. read
“More relevant template from Malaysia”
I am the author of IPO: A Global Guide and refer to Enoch Yiu’s White Collar column (“Fresh reminder of need to end muddle over HKEx roles”, October 1). She said “London and Singapore have long ago brought in independent regulators to be involved in the listing approval process for companies undergoing IPOs”. read
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical last week pushed back the launch of its US$600 million Hong Kong initial public offering from 11 October to, most likely, 15 October – possibly putting it on track for an accelerated marketing timetable. (See my prior column in Money Post on 30 April). read
HONG KONG (Dow Jones Banking Intelligence) – Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (HKEx) has faced much distraction this year. It now needs now to focus on the issues which can help it regain its status as an IPO destination. read
