On 23 July 2013, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange released a large number of listing rule amendments, revised checklists, guidance materials and templates.

Subject to certain transitional provisions, these materials will come into effect on the same date, 1 October 2013, as the amendments to various guidelines and codes released by the Securities and Futures Commission in December last year. Together, they will implement the new regulatory regime for Hong Kong IPO sponsors.

In this briefing, we examine the key reforms, including the public filing system for the “Application Proof” prospectus (i.e. the draft of the prospectus that accompanies the listing application), which will kick-start the listing process. This will be a monumental change to IPO practice in Hong Kong and is expected by the regulators to incentivise listing applicants and their sponsors to step up the disclosure quality of their listing documents.


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