Singapore legislation
Clause 99
Clause 99
New sections 302A, 302B, 302C
The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately above section 303, the following sections:“Issue or transfer for no consideration302A.—
Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division shall not apply to an offer of units in a collective investment scheme (other than an offer of an option to subscribe for or purchase such units) if no consideration is or will be given for the issue or transfer of the units.(2) Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division shall not apply to an offer of an option to subscribe for or purchase units in a collective investment scheme if —
no consideration is or will be given for the issue or transfer of the option; and
no consideration is or will be given for the underlying units on the exercise of the option.Small offers302B.—
Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division shall not apply to personal offers of units in a collective investment scheme by a person if —
the total amount raised by the person from such offers within any period of 12 months does not exceed —
$5 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currency); or
such other amount as may be prescribed by the Authority in substitution for the amount specified in sub-paragraph (i);
in respect of each offer, the person making the offer gives the person to whom he makes the offer —
the following statement in writing:“This offer is made in reliance on the exemption under section 302B(1) of the Securities and Futures Act. It is not made in or accompanied by a prospectus that is registered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the scheme is not authorised or recognised by the Authority.”; and
a notification in writing that the units to which the offer (referred to in this sub-paragraph as the initial offer) relates shall not be subsequently sold to any person unless the offer resulting in such subsequent sale is made —
in compliance with Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division;
in reliance on subsection (8)(c) or any other exemption under any provision of this Subdivision (other than this subsection); or
where at least 6 months have elapsed from the date the units were acquired under the initial offer, in reliance on the exemption under this subsection;
none of the offers is accompanied by an advertisement making an offer or calling attention to the offer or intended offer; and
no selling or promotional expenses are paid or incurred in connection with each offer other than those incurred for administrative or professional services, or by way of commission or fee for services rendered by any of the following persons:
the holder of a capital markets services licence to deal in securities;
an exempt person in respect of dealing in securities;
a person licensed under the Financial Advisers Act (Cap. 110) in respect of marketing of collective investment schemes;
an exempt financial adviser as defined in section 2(1) of the Financial Advisers Act; or
a person who is licensed, approved, authorised or otherwise regulated under the laws, codes or other requirements of any foreign jurisdiction in respect of dealing in securities or marketing of collective investment schemes, or who is exempted therefrom in respect of such dealing or marketing.(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), where any notice, circular, material, publication or other document is issued in connection with the offer, the person making the offer is deemed to have given the statement and notification to the person to whom he makes the offer in accordance with that provision if such statement or notification is contained in the first page of that notice, circular, material, publication or document.(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a personal offer of units in a collective investment scheme is one that —
may only be accepted by the person to whom it is made; and
is made to a person who is likely to be interested in that offer, having regard to —
any previous contact before the date of the offer between the person making the offer and that person;
any previous professional or other connection established before that date between the person making the offer and that person; or
any previous indication (whether through statements made or actions carried out) before that date by that person to the person making the offer or any of the persons specified in subsection (1)(d)(i) to (v) that he is interested in offers of that kind.(4) In determining the amount raised by an offer of units in a collective investment scheme, the following shall be included:
the amount payable for the units at the time when they are issued or sold;
if the units are issued partly-paid, any amount payable at a future time if a call is made; and
if the units carry a right (by whatever name called) to be converted into other units or to acquire other units in a collective investment scheme, any amount payable on the exercise of the right to convert them into, or to acquire, other units in a collective investment scheme.(5) In determining whether the amount raised by a person from offers within a period of 12 months exceeds the applicable amount specified in subsection (1)(a), each amount raised —
by that person from any offer of units in the same collective investment scheme; or
by that person or another person from any offer of securities which is a closely related offer,if any, within that period in reliance on the exemption under subsection (1), section 272A(1) or 282V(1) shall be included.(6) Whether an offer is a closely related offer under subsection (5) shall be determined by considering such factors as the Authority may prescribe.(7) For the purpose of this section, an offer of units in a collective investment scheme made by a person acting as an agent of another person shall be treated as an offer made by that other person.(8) Where units acquired through an offer made in reliance on the exemption under subsection (1) (referred to in this subsection as an initial offer) are subsequently sold by the person who acquired the units to another person, Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division shall apply to the offer from the first-mentioned person to the second-mentioned person which resulted in that sale, unless —
such offer is made in reliance on an exemption under any provision of this Subdivision (other than this section);
such offer is made in reliance on an exemption under subsection (1) and at least 6 months have elapsed from the date the units were acquired under the initial offer; or
such offer is one —
that may be accepted only by the person to whom it is made;
that is made to a person who is likely to be interested in the offer having regard to —
any previous contact before the date of the offer between the person making the initial offer and that person;
any previous professional or other connection established before that date between the person making the initial offer and that person; or
any previous indication (whether through statements made or actions carried out) before that date by that person to the person making the initial offer or any of the persons specified in subsection (1)(d)(i) to (v) that he is interested in offers of that kind;
in respect of which the first-mentioned person has given the second-mentioned person —
the following statement in writing:“This offer is made in reliance on the exemption under section 302B(8)(c) of the Securities and Futures Act. It is not made in or accompanied by a prospectus that is registered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the scheme is not authorised or recognised by the Authority.”; and
a notification in writing that the units being offered shall not be subsequently sold to any person unless the offer resulting in such subsequent sale is made —
(BA)in compliance with Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division; (BB)in reliance on this subsection or any other exemption under any provision of this Subdivision (other than subsection (1)); or
(BC)where at least 6 months have elapsed from the date the units were acquired under the initial offer, in reliance on the exemption under subsection (1);
that is not accompanied by an advertisement making an offer or calling attention to the offer or intended offer; and
in respect of which no selling or promotional expenses are paid or incurred in connection with the offer other than those incurred for administrative or professional services, or by way of commission or fee for services rendered by any of the persons specified in subsection (1)(d)(i) to (v).(9) Subsection (2) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in relation to the statement and notification referred to in subsection (8)(c)(iii).(10) In subsections (1)(c) and (8)(c)(iv), “advertisement” means —
a written or printed communication;
a communication by radio, television or other medium of communication; or
a communication by means of a recorded telephone message,that is published in connection with an offer of units in a collective investment scheme, but does not include —
a document —
purporting to describe the units in a collective investment scheme being offered; and
purporting to have been prepared for delivery to and review by persons to whom the offer is made so as to assist them in making an investment decision in respect of the units being offered;
a publication which consists solely of a disclosure, notice or report required under this Act, or any listing rules or other requirements of a securities exchange, futures exchange or recognised securities exchange, which is made by any person; or
a publication which consists solely of a notice or report of a meeting or proposed meeting of the participants of the collective investment scheme, or a general meeting or proposed general meeting of the person making the offer, the responsible person or any entity, or a presentation of oral or written material on matters so contained in the notice or report at the meeting or general meeting.Private placement302C.—
Subdivisions (2) and (3) of this Division shall not apply to offers of units in a collective investment scheme that are made by a person if —
the offers are made to no more than 50 persons within any period of 12 months;
none of the offers is accompanied by an advertisement making an offer or calling attention to the offer or intended offer; and
no selling or promotional expenses are paid or incurred in connection with each offer other than those incurred for administrative or professional services, or by way of commission or fee for services rendered by any of the persons specified in section 302B(1)(d)(i) to (v).(2) The Authority may prescribe such other number of persons in substitution for the number specified in subsection (1)(a).(3) In determining whether offers of units in a collective investment scheme by a person are made to no more than the applicable number of persons specified in subsection (1)(a) within a period of 12 months, each person to whom —
an offer of units in the same collective investment scheme is made by the first-mentioned person; or
an offer of securities is made by the first-mentioned person or another person where such offer is a closely related offer,if any, within that period in reliance on the exemption under this section, section 272B or section 282W shall be included.(4) Whether an offer is a closely related offer under subsection (3) shall be determined by considering such factors as the Authority may prescribe.(5) For the purposes of subsection (1) —
an offer of units in a collective investment scheme to an entity or to a trustee shall be treated as an offer to a single person, provided that the entity or trust is not formed primarily for the purpose of acquiring the units which are the subject of the offer;
an offer of units in a collective investment scheme to an entity or to a trustee shall be treated as an offer to the equity owners, partners or members of that entity, or to the beneficiaries of the trust, as the case may be, if the entity or trust is formed primarily for the purpose of acquiring the units which are the subject of the offer;
an offer of units in a collective investment scheme to 2 or more persons who will own the units acquired as joint owners shall be treated as an offer to a single person;
an offer of units in a collective investment scheme to a person acting on behalf of another person (whether as an agent or otherwise) shall be treated as an offer made to that other person;
offers of units in a collective investment scheme made by a person as an agent of another person shall be treated as offers made by that other person;
where an offer of units in a collective investment scheme is made to a person with a view to another person acquiring an interest in those units by virtue of section 4, only the second-mentioned person shall be counted for the purposes of determining whether offers of the units are made to no more than the applicable number of persons specified in subsection (1)(a); and
where —
an offer of units in a collective investment scheme is made to a person in reliance on the exemption under subsection (1) with a view to those units being subsequently offered for sale to another person; and (ii)that subsequent offer —
is not made in reliance on an exemption under any provision of this Subdivision; or
is made in reliance on an exemption under subsection (1) or section 305C,both persons shall be counted for the purposes of determining whether offers of the units are made to no more than the applicable number of persons specified in subsection (1)(a).(6) In subsection (1)(b), “advertisement” has the same meaning as in section 302B(10).”.