[ 本內容只備有英文及簡體中文版 ]
On 1 February 2019, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Exchange) released conclusions on its Consultation Paper on Proposed Changes to Documentary Requirements relating to Listed Issuers and Other Minor Rule Amendments issued in November 2017.
The Exchange decided to implement most of the proposals in the consultation paper. The amendments to the Listing Rules will come into effect on 1 March 2019.
Listed issuers and their directors and supervisors (in the case of PRC issuers) should note the following key changes:
Directors’ and supervisors’ personal and contact details
- Former names and alias (if any) of listed issuers’ directors and supervisors will need to be disclosed in appointment announcements, annual reports and listing documents of the issuers.
- Directors and supervisors of listed issuers will be required to, as soon as reasonably practicable after their appointment, provide their contact details to the Exchange in a prescribed form (FF002), containing their telephone and mobile phone numbers, email addresses (if available), facsimile numbers (if available) and correspondence addresses. Existing directors and supervisors of listed issuers are required to submit their contact details to the Exchange as soon as possible and in any event no later than 31 March 2019.
Directors’ and supervisors’ declaration and undertaking
- In the consultation paper, the Exchange proposed to remove the requirement for new directors and supervisors of listed issuers to execute and lodge declaration and undertaking in the prescribed forms (DU Forms). In light of dissenting views and in view of the Exchange’s intention to review its disciplinary powers and sanctions, it decided to retain the DU Forms (including the requirements for solicitor’s and sponsor’s certification).
- The DU Forms will be amended to: (a) require supervisors to provide information to the Exchange and to cooperate in the Exchange’s investigation (in the same way as currently required for directors); and (b) remove inconsistencies in certain provisions in the DU Forms under the Main Board Rules and the GEM Rules.
Filing requirements relating to issues of securities
- A listed issuer will no longer be required to submit a declaration and a certified copy of its board resolutions to the Exchange each time when it issues new securities. Instead, the issuer would be required to make a confirmation in the relevant next day disclosure return (see the amended form: FF304M / FF304G) and/or monthly return (see the amended form: FF301M / FF301G) that the issue of securities has been duly authorized by the board and any pre-conditions and requirements relating to the issue of securities have been fulfilled.
- The existing filing requirements for the following documents will be removed:
– a copy of the HKSCC written notification stating the new class of securities will be Eligible Securities (to be submitted on or before the date of issue of the listing document)
– a copy of the letter from the Registrar of Companies confirming the registration of the prospectus (to be submitted as soon as after the registration of the prospectus)
– a certified copy of the notice given under Division 4, Part 13 of the Companies Ordinance (“Compulsory Acquisition after Takeover Offer”) (to be submitted before dealings commence)
– a certified copy of the court order and of any certificate of registration for capital reduction, scheme of arrangement or other similar proposal (to be submitted before dealings commence)
– (for PRC issuers only) a certified copy of the document from the State Council Securities Policy Committee (or other PRC authority) approving the issue of securities (to be submitted on or before the date of issue of the listing document); and
– (for GEM issuers only) Company Information Sheet.
The above amended filing requirements will apply to issues of securities announced by listed issuers on or after 1 March 2019.
Notification to the Exchange
- Given that listed issuers are required to publish announcements on the Exchange’s website in respect of the following matters, they will no longer be required to make a separate notification to the Exchange:
– board meeting notice under Main Board Rule 13.43 (or GEM Rule 17.48);
– any important change in the holding of an executive office under Main Board Rule 13.51(2) (or GEM Rule 17.50(2));
– any change in information required to be disclosed under Main Board Rule 13.51(2)(h) to (v) (or GEM 17.50(2)(h) to (v)) during the term of a director, supervisor or chief executive; and
– any notifiable transaction.
Other changes to the Main Board Rules
The Main Board Rules will be amended:
- to require listed issuers to announce any changes to their own website addresses;
- to clarify that the Exchange may grant a waiver from the minimum profit requirement for the remaining business under a spin-off proposal where the issuer’s failure to meet such requirement is due solely to a significant market downturn; and
- to make it clear that listed issuers are required to announce (and not only inform the Exchange) certain specific matters, including information relating to appointment of a liquidator or presentation of a winding up petition, insufficient public float, or listing of securities on any other stock exchange.
Other changes to the GEM Rules
The GEM Rules will be amended to align the formal reporting requirements relating to profit forecasts with those of the Main Board Rules (i.e. applicable only to listing documents or an announcement or circular elating to a notifiable or connected transaction or an issue of securities).
[ 簡體版 ]
香港联合交易所有限公司（「联交所」）于2019年2月1日就其于2017年11月刊發的《建议修订上市发行人提交文件的规定以及〈上市规则〉其他非主要修订的咨询文件》发表了咨询总结。
联交所决定落实咨询文件中的大部分建议。对《上市规则》的有关修订将于2019年3月1日生效。
上市发行人及其董事和监事（就中国发行人而言）应注意以下主要修订：
董事及监事的个人及联络资料
- 上市发行人董事及监事的前用姓名及别名（如有）须在发行人的委任公告、年报及上市文件中披露。
- 上市发行人的董事及监事须在获得委任后立即以规定的格式（见表格FF002）向联交所提供联络方法，包括电话及手机号码、电邮地址（如适用）、传真号码（如适用）及通讯地址。上市发行人现任董事及监事应留意，他们必须尽快（不可迟于2019年3月31日）向联交所提交其联络资料。
董事及监事的声明及承诺
- 在咨询文件中，联交所建议废除现行要求上市发行人的每名新董事及监事在获得委任后签署并提交一份声明及承诺书（须以联交所规定的格式作出）（「声明及承诺表格」）的规定。有见于不同意该建议之回应意见及鉴于联交所打算检讨其纪律处分权力及制裁机制，联交所决定保留声明及承诺表格（包括载于当中的律師證明及保薦人證明）。
- 联交所将对声明及承诺表格作出以下修订：(a) 要求监事向联交所提供资料并配合联交所的调查（与适用于董事的现行规定相同）；及 (b) 划一《主板规则》及《创业板规则》的声明及承诺表格中若干不一致的条文。
就发行证券须提交文件的规定
- 上市发行人将无须就每次发行新证券向联交所提交声明及董事会决议案经签署核证副本，规定将改为要求发行人须在相关的翌日披露报表（见经修订的表格: FF304M╱FF304G）及╱或月报表（见经修订的表格: FF301M╱FF301G）确认该证券发行经董事会授权批准，并已达成所有有关证券发行的先决条件及规定。
- 现行要求上市发行人向联交所提交以下文件的规定将被废除：
– 由结算公司发出的一份书面通知书副本，说明新类别证券是合资格证券（于上市文件刊发日期或之前提交）；
– 公司注册处处长确认有关招股章程经已注册的函件副本（于招股章程注册后尽快提交）；
– 根据《公司条例》第13 部第4 分部（「在作出收购要约后进行强制收购」）发出的通告的经签署核证副本（在证券买卖开始前提交）；
– 有关减少资本、债务偿还安排或其他类似建议的法院命令及注册证书的经签署核证副本（在证券买卖开始前提交）；
– （只适用于中国发行人）国务院证券委员会（或其他中国机关）批准证券发行的文件的经签署核证副本（在上市文件刊发日期或之前提交）；及
– （只适用创业板发行人）公司资料报表。
以上有关提交文件经修订的规定将适用于上市发行人在2019年3月1日或之后宣布发行的证券。
向联交所发送通知的规定
- 由于上市发行人须就以下事宜在联交所网站上刊发公告，上市发行人将无须另行通知联交所：
– 董事会会议通告（《主板规则》第13.43条；《创业板规则》第17.48条）；
– 行政管理职位人选有任何重要变动（《主板规则》第13.51(2)条；《创业板规则》第17.50(2)条）；
– 于董事、监事或行政总裁在任期间，根据《主板规则》第13.51(2)条第(h)至(v)段（《创业板规则》第17.50(2)条第(h)至(v)段）规定披露的资料有任何改动；及
– 任何须予公布的交易。
《主板规则》的其他修订
联交所对《主板规则》作出修订：
- 以规定上市发行人更改网址须作出公布;
- 厘清如发行人纯粹因市况大幅逆转导致分拆建议下的余下业务未能符合最低盈利要求，联交所或可就此给予豁免；及
- 厘清上市发行人须就若干特定事宜发出公告（而非单单通知联交所），包括：与委任清盘人或提出清盘呈请有关的资料、公众持股量不足又或证券在其他证券交易所上市。
《创业板规则》的其他修订
- 联交所对《创业板规则》有关盈利预测的正式汇报规定作出修订，使其与《主板规则》的相关规定划一（即只适用于上市文件又或有关须予公布或关连交易或证券发行的公告或通函）。
主要負責人
