Amid a sluggish IPO market, the UK will temporarily ease auditing standards for Chinese companies listing in London starting in September. On July 15, the UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) released revised Third Country Auditor (TCA) guidelines, temporarily allowing the use of Chinese auditing standards when auditing Chinese-registered entities issuing Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) on the London Stock Exchange's Shanghai-Shenzhen Stock Connect. The revised TCA guidelines will take effect on September 1, 2026. This move stems from a request from the UK government that the FRC study whether a temporary adjustment to its TCA policy could address the current obstacles faced by Chinese companies listing on the London Stock Exchange's Stock Connect via GDRs, while ensuring the FRC continues to fulfill its statutory responsibilities regarding audit quality and investor protection.
