Archive:November 2023

1
Australia: ASIC is Remaking Exchange Traded Funds Class Order Relief
2
EUROPE: New Screening Criteria for the EU Taxonomy’s Environmental Objectives
3
Hong Kong Relaxes “Double Dipping” Restrictions For Large IPOs
4
Europe: Significant Expansion to Corporate Criminal Liability in the United Kingdom
5
Australia: Quality of Advice (QAR) Recommendations Partly Addressed
6
ESG Labelling On the Cards for Global Regulation
7
Hong Kong delays implementation of Listing Rules Amendments for Climate Disclosures to 2025
8
Tokenisation of SFC-authorised Investment Products: What You Need to Know
9
Singapore: MAS Consults on Simplified Regulatory Framework for Fund Managers
10
Australia: ASIC Releases Second Report On Reportable Situations Regime

Australia: ASIC is Remaking Exchange Traded Funds Class Order Relief

By: Matthew Watts and Lisa Lautier

The Australia Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) have released Consultation Paper 374 proposing to remake Class Order [CO 13/721] Relief to facilitate quotation of exchange traded funds on the AQUA Market (Class Order) which is due to expire on 1 April 2024.

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EUROPE: New Screening Criteria for the EU Taxonomy’s Environmental Objectives

By: Áine Ní Riain and Gayle Bowen

Following their adoption and publication in draft form by the European Commission last June, two new EU Taxonomy delegated acts were published in the Official Journal on 21 November, and will apply from January 2024. They confirm new and amended technical screening criteria (TSCs) in relation to the environmental objectives in the Taxonomy Regulation.  This is a significant build-out in the application of the Taxonomy Regulation given that for an economic activity to be taxonomy-aligned, it must:

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Hong Kong Relaxes “Double Dipping” Restrictions For Large IPOs

By: Carolyn Sng and Vincent Tso

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKSE) has introduced a new exemption to its “double dipping” rule for large IPOs. “Double dipping” refers to a subscription by an existing shareholder (including pre-IPO investors and cornerstone investors) or its close associate for further shares in the IPO, which is restricted by the HKSE on account of the actual or perceived preferential treatment by the issuer for its existing shareholders. This new exemption permits “double dipping” subject to certain size conditions being met, and is effective with immediate effect on 21 November 2023.

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Europe: Significant Expansion to Corporate Criminal Liability in the United Kingdom

By: Dylan Moses, Michael Ruck, Rosie Naylor and Joseph Skilton

Under the new UK Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, organisations that are bodies corporate or partnerships will become criminally liable for the economic crimes of their senior managers. They will also have a new liability (albeit subject to an important defence) for failure to prevent their employees and associates from committing fraud. 

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Australia: Quality of Advice (QAR) Recommendations Partly Addressed

By: Jim Bulling and Laura McFadzean

On 14 November 2023, the Australian Government released what is described as the first of three tranches of proposed draft legislation implementing the QAR recommendations.

While the government is still saying it intends to address the remaining recommendations of the QAR, there were no commitments given at this stage.

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Hong Kong delays implementation of Listing Rules Amendments for Climate Disclosures to 2025

By: Carolyn Sng and Sook Young Yeu

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX) had been consulting on proposals to enhance climate-related disclosures under its environmental, social and governance framework, with a previously proposed implementation date of 1 January 2024. The HKEX announced on 3 November 2023 that the implementation date of the Listing Rules amendments will be postponed to 1 January 2025.

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Tokenisation of SFC-authorised Investment Products: What You Need to Know

By: Carolyn Sng and Tan Choo Lye

The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC) has on 2 November 2023 issued guidance for the tokenisation of investment products authorised by it for offer to the public in Hong Kong, such as mutual funds, unit trusts and other collective investment schemes. The SFC is adopting a see-through approach, permitting tokenisation of authorised investment products if the underlying product satisfies all applicable authorisation requirements and additional safeguards are in place to address the new risks associated with tokenisation arrangements. 

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Singapore: MAS Consults on Simplified Regulatory Framework for Fund Managers

By: Edward Bennett and Ke Jia Lim

On 24 October 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued a consultation paper on the repeal of the regulatory regime for Registered Fund Management Companies (RFMCs).

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Australia: ASIC Releases Second Report On Reportable Situations Regime

By: Matthew Watts and Rebecca Mangos

The Australia Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released its second report on information lodged under the reportable situations regime for the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

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