Corporate finance advisers in Hong Kong are required to comply with various due diligence requirements. The Securities and Futures Commission(“SFC”) issued the Corporate Finance Adviser Code of Conduct (“CF Code”) and the Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the Securities and Futures Commission (“Code of Conduct”), and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“HKEX”) issued the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange Of Hong Kong Limited (“Main Board Listing Rules”) and the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Growth Enterprise Market of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“GEM Listing Rules”, together with the Main Board Listing Rules, the “HKEX Listing Rules”). These requirements are aimed at ensuring that the advisers have conducted sufficient research and analysis to provide accurate and reliable advice to their clients. For example, corporate finance advisers are required to obtain detailed information about their clients and their business structure, ownership, and financial position, conduct industry research and financial analysis relating to client’s businesses and make sure the clients comply with all relevant regulations, including the Securities and Futures Ordinance, the Takeovers Code, and the HKEX Listing Rules.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) recently issued the Notice on Business Conduct Requirements for Corporate Finance Advisers (“Notice”) on 23 February 2023. At the end of this article, we will compare the due diligence requirements set out in this notice with those of Hong Kong.