he Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) marked a successful year 2024 with Hong Kong ranked as one of the world's top four IPO venues, with activity and fundraising volumes rising sharply from a year earlier. During the year 2024, HKEX IPOs raised a total of $83 billion from 66 new listings, including the biggest IPO since 2021. Further, the reform of the GEM listing rule and the Chapter 18C for specialist technology pathed the way for new listings in the coming year.

In addition, the launching of the new listing application process with the Securities and Futures Commission will shorter the processing timeframe for eligible companies listed in Mainland China and will definitely provide greater certainty and transparency for potential applicants and their advisers in formulating their listing plans. Further, the implementation of a new treasury share regime under the Listing Rule in June 2023 provides issuers with greater flexibility in capital management through share buy-backs and resales of treasury shares. All these changes will enhance and improve and solid in acting a growth energy for the Hong Kong and Mainland China capital market.

The Entities Listing on HKEX Series aims at providing participants the updates on key aspects for listing. The webinars will cover preliminary IPO planning considerations, IPO process, general principles for listing on HKEX, ESG report, internal control, updates on HKEX corporate governance rules, consideration regarding cybersecurity and cross-border data transfer rules, as well as in-dept discussion on Hong Kong and global tax rules and regulation.

Entities Listing on HKEX Series – Board Performance Evaluation (archived session) (ESEMEF295L01)

In December 2024, HKEX published consultation conclusions on its enhancements to the Corporate Governance Code (CG Code) and related Listing Rules. The revised CG Code and related Listing Rules will be applicable to Corporate Governance Reports (CG Reports) and annual reports in respect of financial years commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

With the aim of improving the effectiveness of the boards of Hong Kong issuers, one of the conclusions is to upgrade the evaluation of their boards' performance to be conducted at least once every two years from a voluntary provision to a "comply or explain requirement" (Code Provision B.1.4) and requires new related disclosures in the CG Report.

This session will focus on the key concepts of board performance review. Topics include:

• Hong Kong Listing Rule requirements and other guidelines and references
• Role of the board
• Increasing expectations on the board
• Emerging governance issues for the board
• Board effectiveness framework
• Deloitte Insights – Seven key themes as drivers of board effectiveness and success in this world of uncertainty
• Approach on board performance evaluation
• Expected outcomes of conducting board performance evaluation
• Case studies

​​Notice

This course operates under a learning management system (LMS) designed to enhance the learning experience. The course will be available to LMS-registered users within 24 hours. (Note: first-time user will receive an activation email shortly from no-reply@lmsmailbox.hkicpa.org.hk containing instructions to activate an LMS account.) The viewing period for the course is 180 days.

Offline enrolment form