The first-ever SFO offence to be tried by a jury in the CFI emphasises the SFC’s commitment to prosecuting market misconduct through various enforcement powers.
By Dominic Geiser, Truman Mak, Evangeline Tsui, and Charlotte Wong
The Hong Kong Court of First Instance (CFI) has convicted three individuals of conspiracy to carry out false trading in the shares of a listed company, Ching Lee Holdings Limited (CLHL). This is the first time that an offence under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) has been tried by a jury in the CFI.
The SFC exercises its powers to order the suspension of trading in shares in a listed company to protect investors’ interests.
By Dominic Geiser, Truman Mak, Evangeline Tsui, and Charlotte Wong
On 15 April 2024, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) suspended trading in the shares of Tianyun International Holdings Limited (Company) pursuant to directions from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC). In ordering the suspension, the SFC exercised its powers under section 8(1) of the Securities and Futures (Stock Market Listing) Rules (SMLR), which empowers the SFC to make such directions to maintain an orderly and fair market and protect the investing public’s interests.
This latest example of strategic coordination between Hong Kong regulators confirms a broader regulatory mission and shared objectives.
By Dominic Geiser, Truman Mak, Evangeline Tsui, and Charlotte Wong
On 5 March 2024, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx) issued a Statement of Disciplinary Action (Statement) against two former directors (the Former Directors) of a company listed on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) of the HKEx for misappropriating company funds during the listing process. The disciplinary action followed efforts by the HKEx and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to investigate the directors, and highlights strategic coordination on enforcement actions on IPO-related misconduct. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) also provided assistance.
Hong Kong’s highest court confirms that its financial markets regulator may serve proceedings on foreign defendants for restoration orders as of right.
By Dominic Geiser, Simon Hawkins, Truman Mak, and Adrian Fong
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (CFA) held in a recent judgment that the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) does not need to seek leave of the Hong Kong court to serve false trading proceedings against defendants out of the jurisdictions for restoration orders.
The FCA reminds market soundings recipients of their obligations under UK MAR best practices for trading during the market sounding period.
By Nicola Higgs, James Inness, Rob Moulton, and Jonathan Ritson-Candler
On 31 October 2023, the FCA published Market Watch 75 reminding firms of the importance of robust market soundings procedures. In particular, the publication sets out the FCA’s recent observations around the practices of market soundings recipients (MSRs) and their conduct in the period between being asked to consent to being sounded by disclosing market participants (DMPs), and the sounding itself taking place.
Market soundings can involve the communication of confidential and/or inside information under UK MAR and act as a safe harbour to an unlawful disclosure offence on the basis that a compliant market sounding is performed in the normal exercise of a DMP’s employment, profession, or duties. The market soundings process includes standardised arrangements and information requirements to ensure that no potentially sensitive information is unnecessarily disclosed.
The case provides instructive practical examples of the “reasonable steps” companies can take according to the FCA and a reminder of the FCA’s cultural expectations of CEOs.
By David Berman, Jonathan Ritson-Candler, and Sean Wells
On 16 November 2022, the FCA issued a final notice (Final Notice) to the former CEO of Sonali Bank (UK) Limited (SBUK), Mr Prodhan, for anti-money laundering (AML) failings for a period running from 2012 to 2014 (the Relevant Period).
The Final Notice provides a reminder to firms of the FCA’s expectations in relation to AML compliance; in particular:
As the FCA’s remit continues to grow, the regulator pledges flexibility in the face of global financial and geopolitical headwinds.
By Rob Moulton, Anne Mainwaring, Jaime O’Connell, and Dianne Bell
On 7 April 2022, the FCA released its new Business Plan as part of a package including a three-year strategy document setting out the outcomes it expects all firms to deliver across UK markets. In his introductory message, FCA Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi noted that the regulator’s broad and growing remit means “prioritisation is inevitable”. The FCA’s more outcomes-based approach means its commitments for the next three years fall into three stated areas of focus:
This annual publication outlines some of the primary focus areas in 2022 for UK-regulated financial services firms. There has been a marked shift away from dealing with immediate post-Brexit priorities to more fundamental consideration of the direction of travel of UK financial services regulation, and this is borne out across many of the topics covered in this year’s publication.
While monitoring regulatory divergence between the UK and the EU will be a key theme for 2022, other familiar topics will
This annual publication outlines some of the primary focus areas in 2021 for UK-regulated financial services firms. Some of these topics are attracting attention because they are an emerging trend, or because they are at a key stage in the implementation cycle. Other topics are longstanding, but remain at the top of the PRA’s and FCA’s priority lists.
While this publication looks beyond Brexit and COVID-19, inevitably, in the short term, these issues continue to be dominant themes.
We hope