Hong Kong: Corporate and Company Law

Hong Kong's uncertificated securities market regime, launching November 2026, eliminates paper share certificates for listed securities, requiring electronic title holding through approved registrar systems. Cayman Islands and Bermuda issuers must transition within five years, necessitating constitutional document amendments and new operational procedures. Companies need to appoint approved securities registrars, plan shareholder approvals, and ensure compliance before their assigned transition dates.

Hong Kong's government has proposed significant changes to stamp duty relief rules following court decisions that restricted intra-group transfers. The new legislation aims to expand eligibility beyond traditional share capital structures and lower the ownership threshold from 90% to 75%.

The Hong Kong Court of First Instance has recently handed down a decision on a transaction at an undervalue, involving the replacement of a valuable claim with a paper claim of the same face value, allegedly for the...

Hong Kong's capital markets have re-emerged strongly in recent years, with the city reclaiming its leading position for initial public offerings fundraising in 2025.

Optimism has turned to confidence, and Asset Managers and Private Equity leaders are increasingly bullish about the prospects for their company and the wider industry.

The HKSAR Government has released its preliminary proposed enhancements to the stamp duty relief for intra-group asset transfers under section 45 of the Stamp Duty Ordinance (section 45 relief).

Effective 1 January 2026, amendments to the Companies Act will come into force, further enhancing Cayman's competitive edge as an international financial services market.

Private equity (PE) has traditionally relied on picking the right investment to release value through business transformation post-deal.

To injunct or to not injunct – and if so, where at? That is the question that many face when foreign just and equitable winding-up proceedings have been taken out, despite the presence of an arbitration clause governing...