Licensing Requirement Flashcards
There’re how many regulated activities under SFA? What are they?
9 regulated activities
- Dealing in securities
- Trading in future contracts
- Leveraged foreign exchange trading
- Advising on corporate finance
- Fund management
- Real estate investment trust management
- Securities financing
- Providing credit rating services
- Providing custodial services for securities
If a corporation/person carries on a business in any regulated activity, it needs to hold ____
Capital Market Services or a CMS license for particular activity.
Which entites are exempted under the SFA from having to hold the CMS license for any regulated activity, including fund management?
- Bank (Banking Act)
- Merchant Bank (MAS Act)
- Finance company (Finance Companies Act)
- Company or society (Insurance Act) in respect of fund management for carrying out insurance business
- Securities Exchange, Recognised market operator, approved holding company or clearing house regarding a regulated activity that is incidental to its business
- Any other person or class of persons who is exempted by MAS regarding regulated activity
- Fund Management Comapnies (FMCs) that are
- exempted from CMS, include those which carry on business only for or on behalf of any of its related corporations
- qualify for RFMC regime = Serve not more than 30 qualified investors or 15 funds (include close-end funds and CIS), and maximum asset under mgmt ot SGD250 million
A corporation that carries out fund management in Singapore should either be____ or ____
1) LFMC: A licensed fund FMC holding a CMS license for fund management
2) RFMC: Registered with MAS as a registered FMC
What are the two types of FMC in Singapore?
1) LFMC: A licensed fund FMC holding a CMS license for fund management
2) RFMC: Registered with MAS as a registered FMC
What’re the type of LFMC in Singapore?
1) Retail LFMC: Serving all types of investors, including retail investors
2) A/I LFMC (Licensed Accredited / Institutional FMCs) which must serve only accredited or institutional investors, without any limits on the number of clients.
What’s the requirement for RFMCs in Singapore?
1) AUM are not more than SGD250 million
2) Serve not more than 30 qualified investors, of which not more than 15 are funds, which include close-end funds and CIS
What are the limitations for RFMC and A/I LFMCs to carry on business in fund management?
only with their employees if these employees meet the definition of an accredited investor.
What stipulate the general criteria for licensing or registration of FMCs?
The FMC Licensing Guidelines
What are the major components under the FMC Licensing Guidelines?
What’s the requirement under each major component?
- Directors
Min. # (includes ED but exclude nominee directors) 2/2/2
Min. # of ED (i.e. directors employed full-time in the day-to-day operations of the FMC) 1/1/1
Min. # of years of relevant experience (including managerial experience or experience in a supervisory capacity) 5/5/5
ED to be resident in Singapore (Yes)
- CEO
Min. # of years of relevant experience (including managerial experience or experience in a supervisory capacity) 5/5/10
- Relevant professionals (includes directors, CEO and representatives)
Min. # 2/2/3
Min # of years of relevant experience (5/5/5)
- Representatives.
Min. # of representatives residing in Singapore (may include directors and CEO who are representatives) 2/2/3
Under the FMC Licensing Guidelines, which requirements are differed among RFMC, A/I LFMC, and Retail LFMC?
- Min. # of years of relevant experience for CEO: 5/5/10
- Min. # of relevant professionals (includes directors, CEO, and representatives): 2/2/3
- Min. # representatives: 2/2/3
The FMC Licensing Guidelines
Appointment of _____ of a LFMC needs to be approved by MAS?
CEO or the directors
The MAS grants the approval of CEOs or directors of a LFMC after considering ____ (5 factors)
- The educational or other qualification, experience or expertise
- Fitness and propriety
- History of violations
- Financial standing and history of the individual
- Past performance
The final responsibility for compliance of a FMC rests with ____
CEO and board of directors
What kind of framework should FMC have in place?
Risk management framework
Internal audit framework
The FMCs must disclose ___ arrangements to all potential and existing customers
PII (Professional Indemnity Insurance) arrangements, or the absence of such arrangements
The CMS license of a LFMC lapses if ___
if the LFMC is wound up or dissolved
What actions should be taken upon revocation or suspension of a CMS license?
- The FMC must immediately inform all its representatives through a written notice.
- All the representative who are informed of such revocation or suspension must cease to act as representatives of that FMC immediately.
Unless exempted, individuals who wish to conduct fund management or any other type of regulated activity under SFA must be ____ under the _____ Framework
an appointed representative, temporary representative, or provisional representative regarding the particular of regulated activity under the RNF (Representative Notification Framework).
The individuals can start dealings in regulated activities only after they____
- Satisfied the entry and examination requirements under SFA
- Their names have been entered into the public register of representatives on the MAS website.
The responsibility for ensuring compliance with the registration requirement of individuals rests with ____
Both the individuals and the FMC in relation to the individuals working for the FMC.
Temporary representatives are appointed for ____ within _____
Temporary representatives are appointed for a total of 6 months within any 24 month period, with each appointment not being more than 3 months.
All representatives who represent ____ are required to fulfil the prescribed minimum entry and examination requirements.
CMS license holder or exempt financial institutions
What’s the requirement for an individual being eligible for registration? (4)
- Minimum 21 years old
- Must have an education level of at least 4 GCE O-Level credit passes or
at least 2 GCE O-level credit passes if he has 3 continuous years of working experiences in the past 5 years only applicable to applicants who sat for GCE “O” Level examinations before or in 1980
- Must have fulfilled the CMFAS examination requirements
- Must be a fit and proper person with respect to honesty, integrity, reputation, competence and capability, and financial soundness
What are the factors of fit and proper? (5)
Honesty
Integrity
Reputation
Competence and capability
Financial soundness
Before appointing an inidividual as its representative, the FMC should perform ____ checks on the proposed representative.
Due Diligence Checks
What’s the purpose for reference checks with the previous employers, as part of the due diligence?
To confirm that the proposed representative has not been dismissed or been asked to resign or whether he has any adverse records.
Which source is for probity searches for verifying the past records of employment and regulatory status of the proposed representative?
Public Register of Representatives on MAS website
For Pobity checks on the financial status of the proposed representative, FMC has to obtain report from ____
Ministry of Law’s Insolvency and Public Trustee’s Office Online Portal
Checks performed with credit agencies are for ____
Bankrutpcy status abroad and the credit status from the Credit Bureau in Singapore
What are the factors to consider whether to register a representative or to revoke its registration when the representative fails to meet the fit and proper criteria? 3
- The seriousness and causative surrounding circumstances leading to the failure.
- The relevance of the failure to his duties.
- The time that has passed since the failure.
What’s the relevant information/details required to contian for the public register of representatives? 3
- His name and the regulated activities that he’s allowed to conduct.
- The main companies with which he has worked during the past three years.
- Any formal regulatory action taken by MAS against him.
The status of a provisional or temporary representative is only valid ofr up to __ months from the date ___
3
His name is entered into the Public Register of Representatives.
An apponted, provisional or temporary representative must inform his ___ about any change in his residential address or other personal particulars within ___ days after ___ .
The ____ is required to inform the MAS about the change within ___ after ___.
- 7 days after the date of such change.
- 14 days after the date of such change.
To make sure that its Representatives fulfil the continuing education requirements:
The LFMC must stisfy MAS that all of its ______ fulfil the fit and proper criteria.
The RFMC must stisfy MAS that all of its ______ fulfil the fit and proper criteria.
LFMC: Substantial shareholders, directors and CEO, or equivalent persons.
RFMC: Key officers, substantial shareholders, equivalent persons and persons in control or decision-makers
What are circumstances when acts done totally outside Singapore may not come within the ambit of the SFA?
- The foreign entity is repsonding to unsolicited enquiries or applications from persons in Singapore.
- When the client relocated to Singapore and the foreign entity doesn’t actively solicit new types of business with the client afterwards
- The foreign entity purchases the services of, or provide services to, a regulated person.
____ method should be used to identity the ultimate beneficiaries?
A look-through
Who’s responsible for compliances of LFMC?
LFMC’s CEO and its directors
Under what circumstances where LFMCs are not required to maintain independent custody of managed assets? 3
- If the assets are not listed or quoted on a securities markets
- and are interests in a close-end fund to be used for private equity or venture capital investments,
- and is offered only to accredited or institutional investors.
MAS may, if it deems appropritate for ____ or ____, direct the LFMC to terminate the services of a director or executive officer.
Investor protection or interest of public
What are the minimum base capital requirements for carrying out different type of fund management service
- Carrying out fund management in respect of any CIS offered to any investor other than an accredited or institutional investor: SGD 1 million
- Carrying out fund management (non-CIS) on behalf of any customer other than an accredited or institutional investor: SGD 500,000
- Carrying out fund management other than that described in 1 and 2 above: 250,000
All CMS licence holders, including LFMCs, muts comply with ______ and maintain sufficient financial resources or adjusted net head office funds to meet their _____ requirement.
RBC Framework (Risk Based Capital)
Total risk requirement (TTR)
When is the New RBC Framework for LFMCs effective?
3 April 2015
If the CMSL is NOT subject to the FULL RBC, ____ risk calculations need to be made?
Only operational risk
How to decide whether the full framework will apply or not?
The value of the average adjusted assets
If the Average Adjusted Assets exceed whether S$10 million or 5 times the total positive financial resources, the FULL RBC applies
LFCM is prohibited from repaying the principal of any preference share, excluding paid-up irredeemable and non-cumulative preference shares, through repurchase or redemption, unless _____
- notifies MAS 3 months before the proposed date of repurchase or redemptions
- If at the date or repurchase or redemption, the sum of financial resources of the LFMC is not less than 120% of the required TRR, or the aggregate indebtedness of the LFMC doesn’t exceeds 600% of its aggregate resources.
- If the repurchase or redemption is unlikley to casue the financial resources of the LFMC fall below 120% of the required TRR, or the aggregate indebtedness of the LFMC exceeds 600% of its aggregate resources.
- MAS is not in writting prohibits any such repurchase or redemption repayment.
A LFMC incorporated in Singapore must notify MAS if it draws down on a qualifying subordinated loan _____ (When)
No later than the date of draw down
Even after maturity of the subordinated loan principal, any repayment is prohibited unless the LFMC notifies MAS ____
Minimum 1 business day before the date of repayment
According to the rules of Register of Securities, details of any new acquisition of interest in securities must be recorded _____ (When)
within 7 days of the acquisition
What types of Securities LFMCS and their representatives must disclose and record their interests in securities
Securities which are listed for quotation, or quoted on an MAS-approved exchange or a recognised market operator
When the place for keeping the register of LFMC’s interest in securities is changed, it must notify MAS _____
within 14 days from the date of change of place
Place at which the Register of Interests in Secuirties is Kept?
Individuals
Corporations
Individuals: At their principal place of business
Corporations: Any of its places of business
If there’s any change in particulars of a LFMC or if it stops carrying on regulated activity, it must inform the MAS _____
within 14 days of the change
If the LFMC ceases to conduct business, in all of the regulated activities for which it is licensed, it must return the license to MAS _____
within 14 days
If LFMC is informed by its representative any changes in its representative’s particulars, it must furnish MAS with the particulars of such change _____
If a representative ceases to be its representative, it must furnish the particulars to MAS ____
Within 7 days
On the next business day after such cessation
LFMC must immediately file a notice of cessation with MAS if any appointed representative has not yet commenced his job as a representative in at least one of the regulated activities he was appointed to carry out ______
Before the end of 6 months from the date his name was entered in the public register, or when he was granted a representative’s license.
Which type of regulated activities require strict Risk Disclosure by LFMC prior to soliciting, entering into agreements with, or opening accounts for potential customers?
Manage futures or foreign trading positions
If during an offer for subscription or purchase of securities, a LFMC enters into an underwritting or sub-underwritting agreement, for ____ (how long) it’s restricted for a few regulated activities such as make an offer to sell those securities?
90 days after the close of the offer
If during an offer for subscription or purchase of securities, a LFMC enters into an underwritting or sub-underwritting agreement, for 90 days after the close of the offer it’s restricted to make an offer or recommendation, what are the exceptions?
Makes an offer or recommendation for:
- Securities to accredited or expert or institutional investors
- Any government securities to any person
The soft dollars received should be disclosed in LFMC’s ____
In the LFMC’s semi-annual and annual reports
What kind of account reports should be provided by a LFMC to its customer?
- Monthly statement of account to the customers containing details of the transactions, the status and movement of the customer’s asset, and the various charges
- Quarterly statement of account containing the assets, future positions, leveraged foreign exchange positions and cash balances
Under what situation the LFMC doesn’t need to provide a monthly account report to its customer?
There’s no change in any particulars since the date of the last account statement
The LFMC is not required to provide monthly and quarterly statements to its customers if_____
The customer is an accredited investor or a related corporation of LFMC, and:
The customer has been given access to real-time electronic statements
The customer has requested in writting to not receive the monthly statements
All FMCS must appoint an auditor to audit its accounts, and prepare and submit the following documents to MAS _____
within 5 months after the end of a financial year
- Profit and loss account (P&L account)
- Balance sheet
- The auditor’s report on the financial statements
- Auditor’s certification
- Statement relating to the accounts
- Statement of assets and liabilities
- Statement of financial resources; and total risk requirement + aggregate indebtedness
- NEW: Statement relating to the further information of accounts
- Quarterly and annual returns
What’s the existing/new requirements on quarterly and annual returns of LFMC to MAS?
Quarterly Returns (Unaudited) - Submit within 14 days
1) Statement of assets & liabilities
2) Statement of financial resources; and total risk requirement + aggregate indebtedness
Annual returns (audited) + Submit within 5 months of financial year end
1) P&L account
2) Balance Sheet
3) Auditor’s report
4) Auditor’s Certification
5) Statement relating to the accounts
6) Statement of assets and liabilities
7) Statement of financial resources; and total risk requirement + aggregate indebtedness
8) NEW: Statement relating to the further information of accounts
Requirements regarding customers’ money and assets received by the LFMC
1) Deposit account type
2) Commingling
3) Time to deposit money
4) Other requirements
Different institutions’ eligibility on maintenaning Trust account / Custody Account
Which institutions can maintain both trust account and custody account?
A bank licensed under the Banking Act (Cap.19)
A merchant bank approved under MAS Act (Cap. 186)
A finance company licensed under the Finance Companies Act (Cap 108)
Which institutions can only maintain a custody account but not a trust account?
Depository Agent
An approved trustee for a CIS as defined in Section 289 of the SFA.
Any entity lincensed under the SFA to provide custodial services for securities
LFMCs are prohibited from giving any unsecured advance/loan/credit facility to ____
Any of its directors or their connected persons, who are not employees of the LFMC
What’s the maximum aggregate outstanding unsecured loan or credit amount to an employee?
Not more than 1 year compensation of the officer or employee
Examples of services which the Outsourcing Guidelines are or not applicable to
In order for MAS to conduct direct compulsory transfers and restructuring of an insolvent LFMC, it needs get approval from _____
Approval of the responsible Minister