Singapore legislation

Section 52

of Securities Industry Act

Section 52

Dealings as principal

(1)

Subject to subsection (4), a dealer shall not, as principal, deal in any securities with a person who is not a dealer unless he first informs the person with whom he is dealing that he is acting in the transaction as principal and not as agent.

(2)

A reference in this section to a dealer dealing or entering into a transaction, as principal includes a reference to a person —

(a)

dealing or entering into a transaction on behalf of a person associated with him;

(b)

dealing in securities on behalf of a body corporate in which he has a controlling interest; or

(c)

where he carries on business as a dealer on behalf of a body corporate in which his interest and the interests of his directors together constitute a controlling interest.

(3)

A dealer who, as principal, enters into a transaction of sale or purchase of securities with a person who is not a dealer shall state in the contract note that he is acting in the transaction as principal and not as agent.

(4)

Subsection (1) shall not apply in relation to a transaction entered into by a dealer who is a member of a securities exchange and specialises in transactions relating to odd lots of securities, being a transaction of sale or purchase of an odd lot of securities.

(5)

Where a dealer fails to comply with subsection (1) or (3) in respect of a contract for the sale of securities by him, the purchaser of the securities may, if he has not disposed of them, rescind the contract by a notice of rescission in writing given to a dealer not later than 30 days after the receipt of the contract note and, where a dealer fails to comply with subsection (1) or (3) in respect of a contract for the purchase of securities by him, the vendor of the securities may, in like manner, rescind the contract.

(6)

Nothing in subsection (5) affects any right that a person has apart from that subsection.

(7)

A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.