Governance & Securities Law Focus: Asia Edition, October 2014

In this issue:

- Asia DEVELOPMENT

- HKEx Releases Concept Paper on Weighted Voting Rights

- US DEVELOPMENTS

- SEC Developments

- Noteworthy US Securities Law Litigation

- Recent SEC/DOJ Enforcement Matters

- EU DEVELOPMENTS

- European Commission Launches Public Consultation on Proposals to Improve EU Merger Control

- ESMA Publishes Final Guidelines on Enforcement of Financial Information

- ESMA Consults on Draft Technical Standards and Advice on the Market Abuse Regulation

- European Commission Publishes Q&A on Statutory Audit Measures

- European Commission Publishes Consultation on Existing Framework for Cross-border Mergers

- Council Adopts Directive for Disclosure of Non-financial and Diversity Information

- UK DEVELOPMENTS

- FRC Issues a New Edition of the UK Corporate Governance Code

- ABI Publishes Guidance on Members’ Views on Certain Aspects of Equity Capital Transactions

- IMA Publishes Guidance on Share Capital Management Issues

- FCA Publishes Consultation Paper on Competition in Wholesale Securities and Investment Markets

- FCA Publishes Eighth Bulletin for Primary Market Participants

- FCA Publishes Quarterly Consultation on Listing Rules, Prospectus Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules

- FCA Publishes Consultation Paper on IMSs

- LSE Publishes Notice Regarding Implementation of T+2 Standard Settlement Period and Subsequent New Dividend Procedure Timetable

- Consultation on Miscellaneous Amendments to the Takeover Code

- Takeover Panel publishes Consultation Paper on Post-Offer Commitments and Intentions

- BIS Consultation on UK Omplementation of Accounting Directive

- FRC Consultation on UK Implementation of Accounting Directive

- CMA Implements Order on Audit Reforms

- Guidelines Monitoring Group Publishes Feedback and Final Advice Following Consultation on Amendments to the Walker Guidelines

- EHRC Publishes Guidance on Equality Law Framework

- ICC Publishes Guidance for Companies on Adopting Policies on Corporate Gifts and Hospitality

- Excerpt from SEC Staff Issues Guidance on Verifying Accredited Investor Status:

Last year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted rule changes permitting general solicitation and general advertising in private placements under Rule 506 of Regulation D under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and securities offerings under Rule 144A under the Securities Act.