eSeminar - CPT Bearing

SFC Focus on IPO Sponsors: Key Obligations and Lessons Learned

Overview

This eSeminar is a recorded session of the "SFC Focus on IPO Sponsors: Key Obligations and Lessons Learned" webinar held on 2 June 2026.

Ms Yuan Zheng examines the SFC's heightened scrutiny of IPO sponsors and the evolving expectations of their gatekeeper role in Hong Kong's capital markets. Drawing on recent regulatory inspections and practical case studies, she discusses key areas of focus, including disclosure quality in listing documents, responses to regulatory comments, sponsor oversight and resourcing, FINI compliance, investor independence, and emerging enforcement themes. The session also highlights practical measures sponsors can adopt to strengthen governance, due diligence, and regulatory compliance.

Objective

After completing this course, you will be able to:
1. Identify the key factors driving the SFC’s heightened regulatory focus on IPO sponsor work.

2. Describe the core obligations of IPO sponsors and key stages of the Hong Kong listing process.

3. Recognise the key regulatory concerns highlighted in the SFC circular dated 30 January 2026, including prospectus drafting and disclosure, responses to regulatory comments, and FINI/placement issues.

Content Highlight

1. Factors driving the heightened regulatory attention to IPO work

2. Sponsor obligations & key elements of the listing process
2a) High-level sponsor obligations
2b) Indicative timeline
2c) Practical focus: sponsor interactions with SFC and HKEX during the listing process

3. Three main areas of concern from SFC circular on 30 January 2026:
3a) Drafting issues, misrepresentations and omissions
3b) Handling and responding to regulatory comments
3c) FINI / placement issues

4. Lessons learned from issues flagged by regulators (case-driven)
4a) Common pitfalls observed in recent cases
4b) Controls and process improvements sponsors can implement to avoid repeat issues

Who Should Attend

The webinar mainly targets corporate finance practitioners and sponsors. Senior management including directors, ROs, MICs, legal/compliance, risk managers and capital markets professionals involved in IPO execution who interface with sponsors and regulators.

Instructor / Speaker

Yuan ZHENG

Ms Zheng is a Counsel in Litigation practice of Davis Polk & Wardwell. Yuan has been advising companies on data breaches and compliance with data privacy law. She also advises multinational corporations, banks and Asia-based companies in regulatory and internal investigations of alleged FCPA violations and breaches of securities, anti-money laundering and sanctions laws. She also represents clients in securities litigations and transactional due diligence, and advises fintech firms in relation to regulatory compliance.

Earlier in her career, Yuan spent two years in the Office of Legal Affairs at the United Nations headquarters and four years at the International Court of Justice in The Hague working on interstate disputes on various international law subjects.

Administrative Details

Code
TEEEC26010601
Venue
ePlatform
Relevant Subject
Type 6 - Advising on corporate finance
Type 6 - Advising on corporate finance - Sponsor
Regulatory Compliance
Language
Simp. Chi / Putonghua
Hours
SFC:1.00, PWMA:1.00
Fees
All Member: HK$230
Honorary Fellow Member: Free
Non-Member: HK$460
Staff of Corporate Member: HK$230
Back Enrolment Pending