In April last year, companies were given greater flexibility in protecting their directors against certain liabilities as a result of changes to the law. The changes recognised increasing concern over directors' exposure to liability arising from legal proceedings brought by third parties. The Companies Actprohibits a company from exempting directors in respect of liability if negligent, in default or in breach of duty or trust ...
WHAT IS CEPA? The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (“CEPA”) is a free trade agreement between Mainland China and Hong Kong that offers Hong Kong products, companies and residents preferential access to the Mainland market. Many of the preferences go beyond China’s WTO concessions. CEPA is not a closed agreement and both sides hold regular meetings on further concessions and the details for implementation ...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, the Philippine Central Bank) recently issued Circular No. 518, s. 2006, which authorizes banks to enter into joint venture agreements (JVA) with real estate development companies for the development of properties acquired by banks in settlement of loans and other advances, either through foreclosure or dacion en pago (ROPAs) ...
China has traditionally restricted foreign investment in the retail and wholesale sectors with the aim of nurturing strong domestic players before their foreign counterparts would be allowed into the country. Since becoming a member of the World Trade Organisation, China has gradually opened up its distribution sector to foreign investment ...
The Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”), the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange jointly promulgated the Measures for the Administration of Strategic Investment of Foreign Investors in Listed Companies on 31 December 2005 ...
The Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) issued the Notice of the Ministry of Commerce on Entrusting Local Authorities with the Examination and Approval of Commercial Enterprises with Foreign Investment on 9 December 2005. The Notice, which became effective on 3 March 2006, is expected to reduce the time required for setting up a commercial enterprise with foreign investment (“commercial FIE”) ...
The Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) issued the following notices on 20 January 2006: the Notice on Entrusting the Provincial Level Authorities in Charge of Commerce with the Examination and Approval, and Administration of Non-Vessel Carrier Enterprises with Foreign Investment, the Notice on Entrusting the Provincial Level Authorities in Charge of Commerce with the Examination and Approval, and Administration of Road Transportation Enterprises with Foreign Investment, the Notice on Entrusting the
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange jointly issued the Implementing Opinion on Several Issues in the Laws Applicable to the Examination and Approval, Registration and Administration of Foreign Investment Enterprises on 24 April 2006 ...
The State Council issued the Regulations of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of the Registration of Companies on 18 December 2005. The Regulations have replaced 1994 regulations of the same name with effect from 1 January 2006. The revisions to the Regulations bring the rules for company registration in line with the amended Company Law of the People’s Republic of China (“Company Law”) (as discussed in issue 2005.3 of China Legal Update) ...
The Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) promulgated the Provisional Measures for the Administration of Processing Trade in Export Processing Zones on 22 November 2005. The Measures replace regulations of the same name with effect from 1 January 2006. Definitions The Provisional Measures define an export processing zone (“Zone”) as a specified area subject to closed supervision by the Customs ...
The Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) promulgated the Measures for the Administration of International Freight Forwarding Enterprises with Foreign Investment on 19 October 2005. The Measures, which entered into force on 11 December 2005, repeal regulations of the same name and their supplementary regulations issued in 2003 ...
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE”) issued the Notice on Issues Relating to the Improvement of the Administration of Foreign Debt on 21 October 2005. The Notice entered into effect on 1 December 2005 and governs various aspects of the PRC regime for the control of foreign debt ...
The Supreme People’s Court promulgated the Regulations of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues in the Hearing of Cases Involving Disputes over Letters of Credit on 14 November 2005. The Regulations entered into effect on 1 January 2006 and provide clearer guidance not only on how PRC courts should deal with cases involving disputes over letters of credit (“LC disputes”) but also on the general operation of letters of credit (“LCs”) in China ...
The General Administration of Customs (“GAC”) issued the Measures of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Duty free Shops and Duty Free Goods on 28 November 2005. The Notice, which became effective on 1 January 2006, governs the establishment of duty free shops and the import and sale of duty free goods ...
The Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission (“GDRC”) promulgated the Provisional Measures for the Administration of the Verification of Foreign Investment Projects on 18 February 2006. The Provisional Measures are the local implementing rules for the Provisional Measures for the Administration of the Verification of Foreign Investment Projects promulgated by the State Development and Reform Commission (“SDRC”) on 9 October 2004 (“SDRC Measures”) ...
On 17 February 2006, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Exchange") announced various minor and housekeeping amendments to the Main Board and GEM Listing Rules. The amendments came into effect on 1 March 2006. They relate to the following matters: Disclosures of "advances to entities" and "financial assistance and guarantees to affiliated companies" Rules 13.13 to 13.16 of the Main Board Listing Rules and rules 17.15 to 17 ...
Lessons in Using Employee Non-Compete Agreements An increasing number of companies are requiring their employees (new and existing) to sign so-called “non-compete” agreements. Many of these agreements prohibit employees from working for their employer’s competitors for a period of time after the termination of employment. Some are less restrictive—prohibiting former employees from performing certain duties or dealing with the former employer’s customers ...
The considerable publicity surrounding the new Bankruptcy Act has focused on the impact of the legislation on individuals seeking bankruptcy relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.1 There are also important changes that will have a significant impact on business bankruptcy cases. The new provisions will require suppliers, lenders, debtors, landlords and other constituents to rethink strategies that have previously been routinely employed in business bankruptcy cases ...
Recently, in Clark v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that an employee’s lawsuit for age discrimination under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) was timebarred because of the six-month limitations period contained in the employee’s job application. The court upheld the contractual limitations period at issue even though the ELCRA explicitly provided that an individual has three years to bring a claim under that statute ...
This quarterly newsletter summarizes some of the recent administrative actions that will go into effect this year and which will impact funds and their advisers, beginning with the EDGAR requirements that mutual funds and separate account issuers designate new codes for each series and class when making their EDGAR filings ...
SEC and PCAOB To Take Action on Section 404 Internal Controls Reporting Matters The SEC recently announced a series of actions it and the PCAOB intend to take to improve the implementation of the internal control reporting requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These actions include: • Providing Guidance for Companies ...
EDGAR Identifiers for Series and Classes Last July, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to Regulation S-T to require mutual funds and insurance company separate accounts issuing variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance products to obtain identifiers and electronically identify in their filings made through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system to which of their series or classes the filing relates. See Rel. No ...
Things To Think About This Proxy Season Prior to Drafting Update director and officer questionnaires, including “independence” criteria for directors Most public companies follow the “best practice” of having all directors and executive officers complete a standard form of questionnaire each year to verify the accuracy of information about the person that is reported in the 10-K Report and proxy statement ...
