Under the listing rules of Hong Kong stock exchange (HKEx), companies with a financial year-end of 31 December are required to disclose their annual results by 31 March of the following year or risk suspension. Recent HKEx data showed that more than 60 companies missed this deadline, leading to trading suspensions on the first trading day in April. Including the companies that announced last month, over 70 listed companies have yet to release auditor-approved results and therefore needed to be suspended.
This wave of suspensions has hit a significant number of real estate firms, including the well-known names like Country Garden (碧桂園), and other industry players such as Ronshine China (3301), Modern Land (1107), Dexin China (2019), Ever Reach Group (3616), Yida China (3639), Sunkwan Properties (185), Zensun Enterprises (185), Keyne (9), and Tian An (28) — all of which have been suspended due to delayed disclosures.
The reasons why these companies failed to publish their financial results on time mainly include the need for more time to collect financial data, resignation of auditors, and the departure of key management personnel, and some may have issues in certain transactions that further examination are required etc.
When factoring in long-term suspended, nearly 100 Hong Kong-listed companies have announced in the past month that they need to postpone the publication of their financial results. The wave of suspensions underscores the importance for listed companies to reevaluate their approach to financial reporting and corporate governance, particularly in response to economic downturn and intensified auditor oversight.
When a company’s trading is suspended, it has a few key impacts:
- Director’s Responsibilities: Directors must quickly address the issues causing the suspension. They need to work with advisors, auditors and regulators to fix problems and communicate with shareholders. Failing to act may lead to unwarranted legal and financial consequences.
- Cross-Default: A suspension may lead to cross-default of loans, meaning if the company fails to meet one financial obligation, it could be considered in default of others. This can result in lenders demanding immediate repayment or freezing credit lines, placing the company in jeopardy financially.
- Countdown to Delisting: Companies have a limited window to resolve suspension issues. Failure to rectify these issues can lead to delisting, damaging reputation, hindering fundraising capabilities, and diminishing stock liquidity and value.
The Role of Pelican in Resumption
In a landscape where Financial Advisors abound, the distinction between executional expertise and strategic acumen is critical. Many Financial Advisors excel in day-to-day financial execution, yet it is the rare strategic and tactical advisor who can navigate the challenging waters of trading resumption, particularly in the face of audit-related suspensions.
In the intricate process of trading resumption, especially amid audit-related suspensions, the necessity for a strategic Financial Advisor becomes paramount. Executional expertise alone falls short. Pelican fills this critical role with a blend of Big Four CPA firm experience, deep corporate finance knowledge, and adept storytelling skills. We don’t just execute; we strategize and tactically navigate the regulatory landscape. Our proficiency in weaving commercial substance into compelling submissions sets us apart, making Pelican the discerning choice for companies seeking to overcome the hurdles of trading suspension and emerge with a clear path to resumption.
The Importance of a Proactive Approach
The journey to resumption is not just about meeting the minimum requirements for trading to resume. It’s about taking proactive measures to address the underlying issues that led to the suspension. This could involve restructuring debt, reassessing business models, or even revising management structures.
We believe that with the right expertise, affected companies can turn a challenging situation into an opportunity for improvement and growth. Our commitment is to guide these companies through the resumption process with integrity, transparency, and strategic foresight.
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