Overview

This webinar provides a practical update on the SFC’s increased scrutiny of IPO sponsor work. It explains the key drivers behind the regulatory focus, refreshes core sponsor obligations and the main stages of the Hong Kong listing process and highlights common interaction points with the SFC and HKEX.

The webinar also unpacks the SFC circular dated 30 January 2026, focusing on three areas of focus: prospectus drafting and disclosure, responses to regulatory comments and FINI/placement issues, supported by recent lessons learned and control enhancement measures to help sponsors reduce execution and regulatory risk.

Content

• Factors driving the heightened regulatory attention to IPO work

• Sponsor obligations & key elements of the listing process
  • High-level sponsor obligations
  • Indicative timeline
  • Practical focus: sponsor interactions with SFC and HKEX during the listing process

• Three main areas of concern from SFC circular on 30 January 2026:
  • Drafting issues, misrepresentations and omissions
  • Handling and responding to regulatory comments
  • FINI / placement issues

• Lessons learned from issues flagged by regulators (case-driven)
  • Common pitfalls observed in recent cases
  • 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.