FSTB Consults on Open-ended Fund Company Structure

Introduction

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) published the Open-ended Fund Companies Consultation Paper (see archive) (Consultation Paper) and a press release (see archive) on 20 March 2014 setting out the government's proposals to allow the establishment of open-ended fund companies under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO).

Currently, an open-ended investment fund may be established under Hong Kong law in the form of a unit trust by way of a trust deed but not in corporate form due to the various restrictions on capital reduction under the Companies Ordinance (CO).

Following the announcement by the Financial Secretary in the 2013-2014 Budget in relation to legal and regulatory frameworks that would enhance Hong Kong's position as an international asset management centre, the government proposed to complement the existing unit trust structure by an open-ended company fund (OFC) structure, which will be an open-ended collective investment scheme structured in corporate form with limited liability and variable share capital.

Given the greater popularity of corporate fund structures internationally, the proposals aim to offer market participants greater flexibility in establishing and operating funds in Hong Kong in the hope of encouraging more mutual and private funds to domicile in Hong Kong.

The FSTB welcomes responses to its proposals during the three-month consultation period ending 19 June 2014. This newsletter will summarize the proposed structures of OFCs as set out in the Consultation Paper.

Proposals

The proposals set out in the Consultation Paper cover the legal framework, regulators, legal structure, formation and incorporation, administration and operation, protected cells, termination and winding up, regulatory regime, and tax and other issues relating to OFCs.

1. Legal Framework

The amended SFO and OFC subsidiary legislation

• It is proposed that the new OFC vehicle be established under the SFO and be regulated and supervised by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).

• The enabling provisions will be set out in the SFO to facilitate the making of a separate piece of OFC subsidiary legislation governing the detailed regulation of this new vehicle.

• The government may also consider amending certain provisions of the SFO (e.g. those dealing with the SFC's investigation powers) so as to extend their application to OFCs and key operators such as directors, investment manager and custodian (where necessary).

• The FSTB envisages that the amended SFO and OFC subsidiary legislation will set out the full scheme for OFCs and deal with matters relating to the creation and regulation of OFCs except for certain winding up provisions which will be covered by reference to the existing winding up procedures under the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (C(WUMP)O).

Key areas to be covered under the new legislation

The FSTB envisages that the new legislation will cover the following key areas:

Core structural requirements:

• Basic registration requirements;

• Corporate requirements (e.g. naming convention, directors' duties and powers, shareholder register, registered office, etc.);

• Requirements in relation to key operators (e.g. board of directors, SFC-licensed investment manager and custodian);

• Segregation of liabilities within sub-funds; and

• Termination and winding up requirements.

Key ongoing compliance obligations:

• Compliance with basic content requirements for the OFC's Articles;

• Compliance with basic disclosure standards in any marketing or offering document and continuous disclosure obligations;

• Compliance with basic governance standards; and

• Mandatory corporate filing and reporting obligations.

SFC regulatory powers:

• Make rules and regulations (including codes and guidelines) relating to OFCs;

• Registration and deregistration of OFCs including the revocation of registration and the power to impose, amend or revoke registration conditions;

• Approval of changes to OFCs; and

• Enforcement powers (supplementing existing provisions in the SFO which already apply or are extended to OFCs, their officers and other key operators).

A separate OFC Code

• It is proposed that a separate OFC Code, issued under section 399 of the SFO, will supplement the SFO and the OFC subsidiary legislation by implementing more detailed requirements relating to the OFC and its operation.

• The OFC Code, administered by the SFC, would be applicable to all SFC-registered OFCs whether publicly or privately offered. Publicly offered OFCs required to seek SFC-authorization would also have to comply with the applicable requirements under the SFC Handbook for Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds, Investment-Linked Assurance Schemes and Unlisted Structured Investment Products including the Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds (SFC Handbook).

Some of the key requirements proposed to be included in the OFC Code issued by the SFC are:

• Overarching principles;

• Registration requirements;

• Corporate governance;

• Investment scope and restrictions;

• Operational matters;

• Documentation and reporting; and

• Termination.

2. Regulators

SFC as the primary regulator

Registration

It is proposed in the Consultation Paper that the SFC will be empowered under the SFO/OFC subsidiary legislation to register OFCs and to approve the appointment and replacement of key operators of the OFC including individual board directors, the OFC custodian and SFC-licensed or registered investment managers.

Regulation

It is also proposed that OFCs which are seeking to offer their shares to the public must obtain SFC authorization under Part IV of the SFO unless an exemption applies, and comply with the SFC Handbook.

The Consultation Paper proposes that the SFC will undertake the securities-related enforcement matters relating to OFCs.

Please refer to section 9 below for more details on the SFC's supervisory role in the proposed OFC regime.

Companies Registry (CR) to be responsible for incorporation and corporate filings

It is proposed that the CR will be responsible for the incorporation and relevant statutory corporate filings of OFCs. The aim is to ensure that those dealing with OFCs will have access to basic corporate information regarding OFCs which is included in the corporate public filings kept by the CR. The relevant corporate filings functions proposed to be undertaken by the CR for OFCs will include:

1. maintaining a register for OFCs which will be in line with the existing arrangement for companies registered under the CO;

2. accepting and registering relevant statutory corporate filings and registering company documents which are applicable to OFCs; and

3. providing the public with services to access the OFC information held by the CR.

Please refer to section 5 below for more information on corporate filing functions.

The Consultation Paper proposes that the CR will administer relevant corporate filing breaches under its existing enforcement procedures.

Termination of an OFC

The termination of an OFC is proposed to be subject to the SFC's prior approval.

Winding up of an OFC

It is proposed that the Official Receiver's Office (ORO) will administer any court-ordered compulsory winding up procedures (similar to those applicable to conventional companies formed under the CO) of an OFC. The ORO will administer relevant breaches under its existing enforcement procedures.

Please refer to section 7 below for more information on the procedures for termination and winding up of an OFC.

3. Legal Structure

It is envisaged that OFCs will:

1. be open-ended collective investment schemes in corporate form whose main purpose is to serve as an investment fund vehicle;

2. have their own legal personality and be governed by a board of directors;

3. shareholder liability will be limited to their shares in the company;

4. be managed by professional investment managers on behalf of shareholders; and

5. have their assets held by independent custodians.

Proposed OFC structure

Source: p. 12, the Consultation Paper

i. OFC fund

• As the OFC is proposed to be a pure legal vehicle for investment, it would not be required to be licensed as a licensed corporation under Part V of the SFO.

• The OFC would have to be registered with the SFC under the amended SFO/new subsidiary legislation, and to apply for registration¹, it is proposed that certain basic registration requirements will be required subject to the SFC's vetting.

• According to the Consultation Paper, entities that wish to become a SFC-registered OFC would be required to meet the following key structural requirements:

  1. have Articles which comply with rules set out in the proposed new legislation and OFC Code including a statement that:

     • the company is an open-ended fund company with variable capital;

     • shareholders will not be liable for the debts of the company; and

     • shareholders must be entitled to have their shares redeemed or repurchased at a price based on the net asset value of the fund.

       Please refer to "Articles of incorporation" under section 4 below for more details on the OFC Articles.

       
       

  2. have the registered office in Hong Kong;

  3. be governed by a board of directors; and the board of directors must at all times delegate the investment and management functions of the OFC to an investment manager licensed by or registered with the SFC under Part V of the SFO to carry out Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities; and

  4. properties of the OFC must be entrusted to a Hong Kong incorporated custodian acceptable by the SFC for separate and independent safekeeping of the assets belonging to the OFC.

ii. Board of directors

• It is proposed that the board of directors will only be natural persons and for better transparency, corporate directors will not be allowed. The board will be legally responsible for all the affairs of the OFC.

• In keeping with an OFC's status as an investment fund vehicle, its day-to-day management and investment functions will be carried out by an SFC licensed or registered investment manager appointed by the OFC's board of directors. The board will play a supervisory role, providing an additional layer of oversight for the shareholders.

• It is proposed that the basic eligibility criteria applicable to the OFC board will be as follows:

  1. directors must be natural persons;

  2. directors must be over the age of 18;

  3. there must be at least two directors;

  4. at least one director must be independent of the investment manager and the custodian;

  5. at least one director must be a Hong Kong resident²; and

  6. directors must be of good repute, be appropriately qualified and experienced for the purpose of carrying out the business of the OFC.

iii. Investment manager

• The duties and functions of the investment manager will be set out in the OFC Code.

• The investment manager must be licensed by or registered with the SFC to carry out Type 9 (asset management) regulated activity under Part V of the SFO. As such, the investment manager will be subject to the applicable requirements under:

  1. the Code of Conduct of Persons Licensed by or Registered with the SFC;

  2. the Fund Manager Code of Conduct; and

  3. other applicable regulations under the SFO and other SFC regulations.

• The proposed responsibilities of the investment manager include:

  1. all investment functions;

  2. valuation of assets;

  3. risk management; and

  4. regulatory compliance in accordance with the OFC Code and other applicable regulations.

iv. Custodian

• It is proposed that the assets of the OFC be segregated from those of the investment manager and entrusted to a separate, independent custodian for safekeeping.

• The custodian must be incorporated in Hong Kong and be acceptable to the SFC, and will be subject to the same eligibility requirements as required under the SFC Handbook.

• The detailed functions and duties of the custodian as well as independence criteria will be set out in the OFC Code. The proposed primary responsibilities of the custodian are:

  1. taking into custody or under its control all the assets of the OFC and hold them in accordance with the provisions of the constitutional document; and

  2. maintaining proper segregation and independent custody of the OFC's assets.

4. Formation and Incorporation

Setting up an OFC

The proposed flow of events in setting up an OFC is summarized as follows:

The applicant applies to the SFC for approval of the OFC.

↓

The SFC reviews the application, including whether it meets the regulatory requirements to be stipulated in the SFO and relevant subsidiary legislation, rules, regulations and codes.

↓

Upon CR's receipt of specified documents and the SFC's issuance of an approval-in-principle for registration, CR incorporates and registers the OFC.3

↓

The registration of the specified form and the constitutional documents and the issuance of a certificate of incorporation by the CR confer corporate status upon the applicant entity from the date of the incorporation (i.e. the date of the certificate of incorporation).

↓

The body corporate may exercise all functions of an incorporated company as a full legal person.

↓

Once incorporated, the SFC will include the OFC's name in the SFC's list of registered OFCs. The CR will also include the OFC's name in the CR's list of OFCs and make relevant documents available for public search (e.g. constitutional documents and the certificate of incorporation).

Naming convention

In order to distinguish OFCs from companies formed under the CO and to ensure that OFC names are not misleading or undesirable, it is proposed that:

• the name of an OFC must end with "open-ended fund company" or the abbreviation "OFC"; and

• entities other than OFCs registered with the SFC should be prohibited from using the title "open-ended fund company" or "OFC".

Articles of incorporation

It is proposed that the basic mandatory content requirement will cover the core elements of an OFC, such as:

1. operating as an open-ended fund company with variable capital;
2. the investment scope;
3. having segregation of liabilities between sub-funds;
4. limiting shareholders' liability to their investments in the OFC; and
5. entrusting the OFC's property to a separate, independent custodian for safe keeping.

Investment scope and strategies

• It is proposed that the investment scope of an OFC should align with those types of investment activities⁴, which are subject to licensing and regulation by the SFC under the SFO.

• The Consultation Paper notes that the reasons for restricting the types of asset classes in which an OFC can invest are that the primary purpose of a Hong Kong OFC (regardless of whether it is publicly or privately offered) will be to operate as an investment fund, and the OFC is not designed to operate as a corporate entity for the purposes of general commercial business or trade.

The proposed investment scope aims to

• ensure the current regulatory handle of the SFC in terms of licensing, supervision and enforcement, etc. could also be applicable to investment managers of OFCs; and

• enable all existing fund managers licensed by or registered with the SFC to carry out Type 9 (asset management) regulated activity to apply to manage OFCs without the need to apply for any new licences.

Publicly offered OFCs

Publicly offered OFCs must comply with applicable investment restrictions set out in the SFC Handbook.

Privately offered OFCs

Investment managers of privately offered OFCs may have the flexibility to pursue their own investment strategies, subject to:

• compliance with basic governance principles; and

• conduct and disclosure requirements that are in line with international regulatory standards and within the investment scope as described above.

Offering documents

It is proposed that in line with the existing arrangement adopted for investment fund offerings in Hong Kong, OFC share offerings would be made under an offering document. Basic disclosure requirements for offering documents would be set out in the new legislation and/or the OFC Code and any misrepresentations would be subject to liability under sections 107 and 108 SFO. Offering documents would be required to:

• contain information necessary for investors to be able to make an informed judgment of the investment; and

• be up-to-date as open-ended OFCs are offered on a continuous basis.

Publicly offered OFCs

It is proposed that offering documents of publicly offered OFCS will be required to:

• comply with the disclosure requirements in the SFC Handbook; and

• obtain the SFC's authorization⁵, after which the offering document should be filed with the CR prior to issue.

Privately offered OFCs

It is proposed offering documents of privately offered OFCs will not be required to:

• be filed with the CR; nor

• obtain the SFC's authorization.

5. Administration and Operation

Corporate administration

i. Meetings

• It is proposed that annual general meetings would be optional. However, shareholders with 5% of the voting rights of an OFC should have the right to requisition an extraordinary general meeting.

• The following are proposed to be consistent with those that are currently under the CO⁶:

  1. notice of meetings;

  2. meeting quorums of at least two members; and

  3. resolution thresholds (a simple majority for ordinary resolutions and a majority of at least 75% for special resolutions).

• It is also proposed that publicly offered OFCs will need to comply with existing meeting requirements under the SFC Handbook.

ii. Reports and accounts

• It is proposed that OFCs should prepare the following reports and accounts⁷ to keep investors informed of the development and performance of their investments:

  1. annual report and audited accounts⁸; and

  2. unaudited interim report and accounts.

• Further, it is proposed that the following basic reporting requirements will be prescribed, for example:

  1. A statement of assets and liabilities covering the OFC's investments, assets, liabilities and net asset value. The annual report is also expected to contain both qualitative and quantitative information on the investment portfolio and assets of the OFC;

  2. For umbrella OFCs, the accounts must cover:

     • the consolidated view; and

     • the accounts of each individual sub-fund.

  3. Publicly offered OFCs must also comply with the reporting requirements under the SFC Handbook.

iii. Corporate filings

• It is proposed that:

  1. a number of the corporate filings currently applicable to conventional companies would not be applicable to OFCs;

  2. some of the applicable filings could be simplified; and

  3. OFCs would have to comply with relevant statutory corporate filings requirements such as annual return, notification of change of directors or change of address of the registered office.

• Further review will be conducted by the SFC and CR to formulate the detailed corporate filing requirements for OFCs.

Fund operation

i. Share capital

• It is proposed that the share capital value will be determined by market needs and not restricted to a minimum or maximum share capital value.

• The share capital rules in the CO relating to capital maintenance, increase and reduction of capital are not applicable to OFCs because of their open-ended nature.

ii. Valuation and pricing

• There should be no fundamental differences in treatment between public and private OFCs because valuation and pricing is a fundamental aspect of an investment fund's operation.

• It is proposed that the offer and redemption prices be calculated on the basis of the OFC's net asset value divided by the number of shares outstanding and that such prices may be adjusted by fees and charges, provided the amount or method of calculating such fees and charges is clearly disclosed in the offering document.

Rules, requirements, and codes of conduct

• Public funds should follow the requirements set out in the SFC Handbook and valuation rules for both public and private OFCs would be set out in the Articles.

• Investment managers of all OFCs are also expected to observe applicable requirements under the SFC Code of Conduct and Fund Manager Code of Conduct.

iii. Issue and redemption of shares

Under the proposals,

• an OFC may create and cancel shares according to the investment demands of the market, subject only to any constraints under its Articles;

• shares in an OFC should be redeemable at the request of shareholders on each dealing day subject to the terms and conditions set out in the offering document;

• publicly offered OFCs would be subject to the dealing frequency requirements under the SFC Handbook; and

• suspension or deferral of dealings in privately offered funds will be allowed subject to full disclosure of the circumstances in which dealing may be deferred or suspended in the OFC's Articles and offering document (to enable more flexibility for such funds to manage fund liquidity).

iv. Distributions to shareholders

• The Consultation Paper notes that the FSTB does not intend to make prescriptive rules on how and when an OFC should make distributions to shareholders, which are usually commercial decisions made by the investment manager.

• It is proposed that OFCs should be allowed to make distributions out of capital subject to solvency and disclosure.

• An OFC's distribution policy (which includes whether distributions may be made out of capital) and any associated risks must be clearly disclosed in the OFC's offering documents.

6. Protected Cells

Segregation of liabilities between sub-funds

• An umbrella fund can have several sub-funds. However, if there is no legal segregation of liabilities between different sub-funds and assets of one sub-fund can be utilized to meet the claims of another sub-fund, there may be a potential contagion risk to investors.

• A protected cell regime addresses this contagion risk by providing for a legally enforceable segregation of the assets and liabilities of each sub-fund.

Proposed protected cell regime for Hong Kong

Under the proposed OFC legislation

The proposed new OFC legislation will mandate the following if an OFC is established as an umbrella company:

1. the assets of a sub-fund will belong exclusively to that sub-fund and cannot be used to discharge the liabilities of any other person, including the OFC itself or another sub-fund;

2. a liability incurred on behalf of a sub-fund must be discharged solely out of the assets of that sub-fund; and

3. where assets or liabilities are not attributable to any particular sub-fund, the OFC may allocate them in a manner which it considers to be fair to shareholders.

Winding up of a sub-fund

The aforesaid segregation will also make it easier for individual sub-funds to be wound up as if it were a legal person in its own right and therefore any winding up of a sub-fund could be done more efficiently and without much impact to the umbrella OFC.

Disclosure warning in OFC prospectus

There is no guarantee that Hong Kong's interpretation of a protected cell regime would be upheld by courts in other jurisdictions. The Consultation Paper therefore suggests that the OFC prospectus should include a disclosure warning that such protected cells may not be upheld in foreign courts.

Proposed structure: OFC umbrella with segregated liabilities

Source: p. 27, the Consultation Paper

7. Termination and Winding Up

Streamlined termination of a solvent OFC

Termination

• It is proposed that an OFC could be terminated under the new legislation (subject to SFC's prior approval) where:

  1. the OFC is terminated in accordance with the specific provisions in the OFC Articles. For example, if the fund size falls below a particular threshold and it is no longer economical or in the interest of shareholders for the fund to continue to operate or if the fund is a fixed term fund upon effluxion of time, the board may resolve to terminate the fund;

  2. the OFC is solvent as certified by the OFC board and an independent, qualified auditor; and

  3. reasonable prior notice has been given to shareholders.

De-registration

• Once the OFC assets have been fully distributed to shareholders and all liabilities have been settled, the OFC board would be able to make an application to the SFC for de-registration of the OFC together with:

  1. the final accounts of the OFC accompanied by the auditor's report; and

  2. a declaration signed by the OFC board and the investment manager confirming that all assets have been distributed to shareholders in accordance with the OFC Articles and the OFC has no outstanding liabilities.

• The OFC would be dissolved as soon as practicable after the SFC's approval for de-registration. The SFC would notify the CR after dissolution of the OFC to allow the CR to update the OFC's status.

Winding up of an OFC

Solvent OFCs

Similar to conventional companies, it is proposed that

• the shareholders of an OFC will have the right to wind up the OFC on a voluntary basis, subject to the SFC's prior approval; and

• the established requirements and procedures⁹ that are applicable to members' voluntary winding up of conventional companies as set out in the C(WUMP)O should apply in the case of voluntary winding up of OFCs for protection of shareholders and creditors.

Insolvent OFCs

• It is proposed that the winding up of an insolvent OFC would be in accordance with the requirements and procedures set out in the C(WUMP)O.

Winding up by the court

• The SFC would have the power to wind up an OFC on application to the court; and

• The custodian would also be able to present a petition to the court for the winding up of an OFC.

Dissolution in other circumstances

• An OFC could also be dissolved by being struck off the register by the SFC where the OFC is defunct or in other circumstances as specified under the new legislation.

8. Regulatory Regime

Supervision

• OFC investment managers, which are either SFC licensed or registered, will need to comply with regulatory requirements including:

  • the Code of Conduct;

  • the Fund Manager Code of Conduct; and

  • the proposed OFC Code.

• The new OFC legislation and the OFC Code would set out the key functions and duties of directors and other key operators of OFCs which must be complied with for so long as the OFC remains registered with the SFC.

• It is proposed that the OFC be subject to post-registration monitoring and supervision under the new legislation and the OFC Code. Publicly offered OFCs would also be subject to on-going post-authorization requirements under the SFC Handbook.

Proposed enforcement

While there will be a mandatory delegation of all investment functions and the day-to-day management of the OFC to a SFC-licensed or registered investment manager, neither the OFC itself nor its directors will be required to be licensed by the SFC (please refer to the section "Legal Structure" above for more information).

Since the SFC's existing powers over licensees will not extend to the OFC or its directors, the SFC has proposed that it should have additional enforcement powers over the OFC vehicle itself and the individual directors to safeguard investor interests.

i. Investigatory powers

It is proposed that the SFC should be vested with:

• investigatory powers to investigate the affairs of OFCs and their directors as long as the SFC has reasonable suspicion of misconduct; and

• the SFC's existing powers to compel the provision of information relating to transactions and the production of documents and/or answers to questions during investigations and to apply to the courts for warrants to search premises and seize documents under the SFO in relation to OFCs.

ii. Powers of restriction

• It is proposed that the SFC should be vested with the power to intervene in the business and management of an OFC, as the SFC's current powers to issue restriction notices will not apply to the proposed OFCs as they will not be licensed by the SFC.

• The proposed powers that will apply include:

  1. requiring an OFC to cease the issue and/or redemption of shares; and

  2. requiring a director of an OFC to cease transfers to and/or from his own shareholding in the OFC.

iii. Criminal and civil powers

Criminal, civil and market misconduct proceedings

• It is proposed that the following existing powers of the SFC should be available when dealing with OFCs and OFC investment managers:

  1. Power to bring criminal proceedings¹⁰ for offences including:

     • fraudulent or reckless misrepresentations to investors or potential investors;

     • holding out as a licensed person when unlicensed; and

     • suspected manipulation of the market asset value of an OFC.

  2. Power to bring market misconduct proceedings under Part XIII of the SFO for misconduct such as disclosure of false or misleading information inducing transactions;

  3. Power to present a petition to wind up a company on just and equitable grounds under section 212 of the SFO;

  4. Power to bring civil proceedings for protective and remedial orders against a person who has contravened any provision of the SFO or licensing or registration terms and conditions or any other condition, notice or requirements imposed under section 213 of the SFO.

     • It is proposed that the OFC legislation will provide appropriate coverage to ensure section 213 of the SFO can be triggered in all appropriate cases against OFCs.¹¹

Remedies

• To combat misfeasance by OFCs and their directors, it is proposed that remedies similar to those available under section 214 of the SFO in respect of listed corporations be available in respect of OFCs and their directors. This will enable the SFC to seek remedies from the court to protect the interests of shareholders of OFCs where the SFC suspects the business of a company is conducted in a manner which is

  • unfairly prejudicial or oppressive to its shareholders; or

  • involves defalcation, fraud, misfeasance or other misconduct towards its shareholders; or

  • where the company has not given its shareholders any information that they might reasonably expect in relation to its business.

Court orders

• It is proposed the SFC should be vested with the power to apply to court for appropriate orders, to:

  1. remove and replace directors of OFCs;

  2. remove and replace custodians of OFCs in circumstances such as the failure to comply with eligibility requirements; and

  3. requiring investments in an OFC to be realized and the proceeds distributed to its shareholders.

9. Tax and Other Issues

Profits tax exemption for OFCs authorized by SFC or OFCs with their central management and control outside Hong Kong

• The tax exemption regimes provided under sections 26A (profits tax exemption for public funds¹²) and 20AC (profits tax exemption for offshore funds) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO) could be considered for application to OFCs which are either:

  1. collective investment schemes authorized under section 104 of the SFO; or

  2. offshore funds with their central management and control located outside Hong Kong.

     • For the purpose of section 20AC of the IRO, the central and management control (CMC) test is applied to the fund itself (i.e. at the OFC level). If the CMC of the OFC is not exercised in Hong Kong, the OFC can qualify for the profits tax exemption under section 20AC notwithstanding that the OFC is incorporated in Hong Kong and its asset portfolios are managed by a SFC-licensed/registered Hong Kong fund manager with full discretionary power.
       
       

• The Consultation Paper notes that the exemption or the extent of the exemption that should be applied to privately offered OFCs with CMC located onshore will be considered carefully having regard to possible read-across implications.

Stamp duty on transfer of OFC shares

Under the proposals, allotments, transfers and surrenders (e.g. in the case of redemptions) of shares in OFCs may be treated in the same way as units in unit trusts for stamp duty purposes. The Consultation Paper sets out details of the stamp duty treatment of allotments, transfers and surrenders of units in unit trusts, as below.

Transfers

If the transfer of a unit in a unit trust is required to be registered in Hong Kong, then that unit is "Hong Kong stock" and instruments effecting the transfer thereof are liable to duty in accordance with Head 2 of the First Schedule of the Stamp Duty Ordinance (SDO). The rules relating to contract notes as set out in section 19 of SDO generally apply to dealings in the units. Transfers of ETF instruments are not stampable if the value of Hong Kong stocks does not exceed 40% of the aggregate value of the underlying portfolio.

Allotments

The initial allotment of a unit by the trustees is not subject to stamp duty because according to section 19(16) of SDO, "sale or purchase" is defined to mean any disposal or acquisition (other than an allotment) for valuable consideration.

Surrenders

Where the unit is surrendered to the trustees or managers (e.g. in the case of redemption) and the unit is then extinguished, no ad valorem duty (i.e. 0.1%) is payable by the managers as section 19(1A)(a) of SDO provides that section 19(1) of SDO (which requires a person effecting the sale or purchase of Hong Kong stock to make, execute, and stamp contract notes) does not apply to a sale or purchase of a unit under a unit trust scheme where the transaction is effected by extinguishing the unit. Only a fixed duty of $5 is payable on the surrender of a unit where this involves extinguishing the unit.

Tax filing

While an OFC is an investment fund vehicle, it takes a corporate form and it is therefore proposed that OFCs should be required to register for business under the Business Registration Ordinance and complete tax returns to report income accrued to employees and profits whether fully or partially exempt from profits tax.

Submission of Comments

FSTB, the SFC and relevant departments will work on the details of the proposals set out above, taking into account comments received during the public consultation. Members of the public and the industry are welcome to send their written comments on or before 19 June 2014, by any one of the following means:

By mail to:	Consultation on Open-ended Fund Companies Financial Services Branch Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau 24/F Central Government Offices 2 Tim Mei Avenue Tamar Hong Kong
By fax to:	+852 2294 0460
By email to:

Annex: Consultation Questions

Question 1	Do you agree with the overarching principles for OFCs?
Question 2	Do you consider it agreeable to set out the legislative framework for OFC in the SFO and the relevant subsidiary legislation in the proposed manner?
Question 3	Do you think the proposed scope of the code and guidelines could adequately cater for the OFC regime? If not, what other essential features should the codes and guidelines include?
Question 4	Do you agree with the proposal that the SFC should be the primary regulator of OFCs?
Question 5	Do you agree with the proposed role and functions of CR in the OFC regime?
Question 6	Do you agree with the proposed role of ORO and SFC in respect of proposed termination and winding up arrangements for OFCs?
Question 7	Do you think the proposed features comprise the essential features of an OFC? If not, what other essential features should an OFC possess?
Question 8	Do you agree with the proposed features for the Board of Directors? Do you think the proposed structure of the Board and the proposed criteria of directors will be able to render adequate investor protection to those investing in OFCs? Or do you think the proposed structure is too onerous, and would hinder the development of OFCs in Hong Kong?
Question 9	Do you agree that the OFC board must delegate the day-to-day management and investment functions of the OFC to an investment manager who is licensed by or registered with the SFC to carry out Type 9 (asset management) regulated activity?
Question 10	Do you think the proposal to require a custodian in the OFC structure could foster the protection of investors in an OFC? Do you consider the proposed requirements and duties for a custodian adequate to meet this objective?
Question 11	Do you agree with the proposed arrangements in relation to the incorporation of OFC?
Question 12	Do you consider the proposed naming convention provides sufficient level of clarity to investors?
Question 13	Do you agree that the proposed Articles are adequate? What features should the Articles include?
Question 14	Do you consider the proposed investment scope and strategies could provide a competitive framework for OFCs in Hong Kong with sufficient safeguards for investor protection?
Question 15	Do you agree with the proposed arrangements in relation to the offer of OFC shares?
Question 16	Do you agree with the proposed arrangements regarding corporate administration?
Question 17	Do you agree with the proposed arrangements in relation to fund operation? Are the proposed principles and arrangements adequate to cater for the practical operation for OFCs?
Question 18	Do you agree with the proposed arrangements in relation to protected cells?
Question 19	Do you think the proposed termination procedures are adequate to provide an expedient way for terminating a solvent OFC?
Question 20	Do you have any comments on the proposed termination, winding up and dissolution arrangements for OFCs, including the proposed power to be given to the custodian to petition to the court to wind up an OFC?
Question 21	Do you consider the proposed powers are essential and proportionate?
Question 22	Do you think the existing profits tax exemption regimes for public funds authorised under section 104 of the SFO / bona fide widely held regulated funds and offshore funds are adequate to cater for OFCs?
Question 23	Do you consider that the proposed stamp duty treatment on sale and transfer of shares in OFCs can cater for the market needs?
Question 24	Do you consider the proposed tax filing arrangement agreeable?

---

1. In addition to registration, if the OFC wishes to offer its shares to the public, it will have to seek SFC authorization under section 104 of the SFO and comply with the applicable requirements under the SFC Handbook.↩

2. The same director may satisfy the independence and residency requirement.↩

3. The Consultation Paper highlights that this registration status is not the same as an authorization under section 104 of the SFO. If the OFC wishes to offer its shares to the public, it is proposed that the OFC will have to seek authorization under section 104 of the SFO which can be processed concurrently with its application for registration as an OFC.↩

4. Namely securities, futures (and over-the-counter derivatives once the relevant proposed legislative amendments to the SFO have become effective) as defined under the SFO.↩

5. Under section 105 of the SFO, prior to issue, similar to all investment funds offered to the public in Hong Kong.↩

6. Other administrative and procedural matters relating to member meetings may be determined by individual OFC's Articles.↩

7. All accounts must be prepared in accordance with the Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards.↩

8. Audited accounts must be audited by an independent auditor who is appointed by the OFC board.↩

9. Including shareholders' approval, appointment of liquidator, notices, final meeting and final accounts.↩

10. Section 107 of the SFO; Part XIV of the SFO; section 300 of the SFO.↩

11. This may include the establishment of bespoke remedial orders to deal with the consequences of misconduct in the affairs of an OFC.↩

12. Including mutual funds, unit trusts or similar CIS authorized by the SFC under section 104 of the SFO or similar bona fide widely held investment schemes.↩