Singapore legislation

Clause 10

of Financial Institutions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

Clause 10

Amendment of Trust Companies Act

The Trust Companies Act (Cap. 336) is amended —

(a)

by deleting the words “section 130A” in the definition of “advocate and solicitor” in section 2 and substituting the words “section 2(1)”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “book” in section 2, the following definition:“ “chief executive”, in relation to a licensed trust company, means any person, by whatever name described, who —

(a)

is in the direct employment of, or acting for or by arrangement with, the licensed trust company; and

(b)

is principally responsible for the management and conduct of the business of the licensed trust company;”;

(c)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “director” in section 2, the following definition:“ “executive officer”, in relation to a licensed trust company, means any person, by whatever name described, who —

(a)

is in the direct employment of, or acting for or by arrangement with, the licensed trust company; and

(b)

is concerned with or takes part in the management of the licensed trust company on a day-to-day basis;”;

(d)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (d) of section 10(2), the following paragraph:“(da)upon the Authority exercising any power under section 21C(2) or the Minister exercising any power under Division 2, 3 or 4 of Part IVB of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Act (Cap. 186) in relation to the licensed trust company, the Authority considers that it is in the public interest to revoke or suspend the trust business licence;”;

(e)

by inserting, immediately after section 21, the following Parts:“PART IIIACONTROL OVER LICENSED TRUST COMPANYInterpretation of this Part21A. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —“business” includes affairs and property;“office holder”, in relation to a licensed trust company, means any person acting as the liquidator, the provisional liquidator, the receiver or the receiver and manager of the licensed trust company, or acting in an equivalent capacity in relation to the licensed trust company;“relevant business” means any business of a licensed trust company —

(a)

which the Authority has assumed control of under section 21C; or

(b)

in relation to which a statutory adviser or a statutory manager has been appointed under section 21C;“statutory adviser” means a statutory adviser appointed under section 21C;“statutory manager” means a statutory manager appointed under section 21C.Information of insolvency, etc.21B.—

(1)

Any licensed trust company which is or is likely to become insolvent, which is or is likely to become unable to meet its obligations, or which has suspended or is about to suspend payments, shall immediately inform the Authority of that fact.(2) Any licensed trust company which contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.Action by Authority if licensed trust company unable to meet obligations, etc.21C.—

(1)

The Authority may exercise any one or more of the powers specified in subsection (2) as appears to it to be necessary, where —

(a)

a licensed trust company informs the Authority that it is or is likely to become insolvent, or that it is or is likely to become unable to meet its obligations, or that it has suspended or is about to suspend payments;

(b)

a licensed trust company becomes unable to meet its obligations, or is insolvent, or suspends payments;

(c)

the Authority is of the opinion that a licensed trust company —

(i)

is carrying on its business in a manner likely to be detrimental to the interests of the public or a section of the public or of the protected parties of the licensed trust company;

(ii)

is or is likely to become insolvent, or is or is likely to become unable to meet its obligations, or is about to suspend payments;

(iii)

has contravened any of the provisions of this Act; or

(iv)

has failed to comply with any condition or restriction attached to its trust business licence; or

(d)

the Authority considers it in the public interest to do so.(2) Subject to subsections (1) and (3), the Authority may —

(a)

require the licensed trust company immediately to take any action or to do or not to do any act or thing whatsoever in relation to its business as the Authority may consider necessary;

(b)

appoint one or more persons as statutory adviser, on such terms and conditions as the Authority may specify, to advise the licensed trust company on the proper management of such of the business of the licensed trust company as the Authority may determine; or

(c)

assume control of and manage such of the business of the licensed trust company as the Authority may determine, or appoint one or more persons as statutory manager to do so on such terms and conditions as the Authority may specify.(3) In the case of a licensed trust company incorporated outside Singapore, any appointment of a statutory adviser or statutory manager or any assumption of control by the Authority of any business of the licensed trust company under subsection (2) shall only be in relation to —

(a)

the business or affairs of the licensed trust company carried on in, or managed in or from, Singapore; or

(b)

the property of the licensed trust company located in Singapore, or reflected in the books of the licensed trust company in Singapore, as the case may be, in relation to its operations in Singapore.(4) Where the Authority appoints 2 or more persons as the statutory manager of a licensed trust company, the Authority shall specify, in the terms and conditions of the appointment, which of the duties, functions and powers of the statutory manager —

(a)

may be discharged or exercised by such persons jointly and severally;

(b)

shall be discharged or exercised by such persons jointly; and

(c)

shall be discharged or exercised by a specified person or such persons.(5) Where the Authority has exercised any power under subsection (2), it may, at any time and without prejudice to its power under section 10(2)(da), do one or more of the following:

(a)

vary or revoke any requirement of, any appointment made by or any action taken by the Authority in the exercise of such power, on such terms and conditions as it may specify;

(b)

further exercise any of the powers under subsection (2);

(c)

add to, vary or revoke any term or condition specified by the Authority under this section.(6) No liability shall be incurred by a statutory manager or a statutory adviser for anything done (including any statement made) or omitted to be done with reasonable care and in good faith in the course of or in connection with —

(a)

the exercise or purported exercise of any power under this Act;

(b)

the performance or purported performance of any function or duty under this Act; or

(c)

the compliance or purported compliance with this Act.(7) Any licensed trust company that fails to comply with a requirement imposed by the Authority under subsection (2)(a) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.Effect of assumption of control under section 21C21D.—

(1)

Upon assuming control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company, the Authority or statutory manager, as the case may be, shall take custody or control of the relevant business.(2) During the period when the Authority or statutory manager is in control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company, the Authority or statutory manager —

(a)

shall manage the relevant business of the licensed trust company in the name of and on behalf of the licensed trust company; and

(b)

shall be deemed to be an agent of the licensed trust company.(3) In managing the relevant business of a licensed trust company, the Authority or statutory manager —

(a)

shall take into consideration the interests of the public or the section of the public referred to in section 21C(1)(c)(i), or of the protected parties of the licensed trust company; and

(b)

shall have all the duties, powers and functions of the members of the board of directors of the licensed trust company (collectively and individually) under this Act, the Companies Act (Cap. 50) and the constitution of the licensed trust company, including powers of delegation, in relation to the relevant business of the licensed trust company; but nothing in this paragraph shall require the Authority or statutory manager to call any meeting of the licensed trust company under the Companies Act or the constitution of the licensed trust company.(4) Notwithstanding any written law or rule of law, upon the assumption of control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company by the Authority or statutory manager, any appointment of a person as the chief executive or a director of the licensed trust company, which was in force immediately before the assumption of control, shall be deemed to be revoked, unless the Authority gives its approval, by notice in writing to the person and the licensed trust company, for the person to remain in the appointment.(5) Notwithstanding any written law or rule of law, during the period when the Authority or statutory manager is in control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company, except with the approval of the Authority, no person shall be appointed as the chief executive or a director of the licensed trust company.(6) Where the Authority has given its approval under subsection (4) or (5) to a person to remain in the appointment of, or to be appointed as, the chief executive or a director of a licensed trust company, the Authority may at any time, by notice in writing to the person and the licensed trust company, revoke that approval, and the appointment shall be deemed to be revoked on the date specified in the notice.(7) Notwithstanding any written law or rule of law, if any person, whose appointment as the chief executive or a director of a licensed trust company is revoked under subsection (4) or (6), acts or purports to act after the revocation as the chief executive or a director of the licensed trust company during the period when the Authority or statutory manager is in control of the relevant business of the licensed trust company —

(a)

the act or purported act of the person shall be invalid and of no effect; and

(b)

the person shall be guilty of an offence.(8) Notwithstanding any written law or rule of law, if any person who is appointed as the chief executive or a director of a licensed trust company in contravention of subsection (5) acts or purports to act as the chief executive or a director of the licensed trust company during the period when the Authority or statutory manager is in control of the relevant business of the licensed trust company —

(a)

the act or purported act of the person shall be invalid and of no effect; and

(b)

the person shall be guilty of an offence.(9) During the period when the Authority or statutory manager is in control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company —

(a)

if there is any conflict or inconsistency between —

(i)

a direction or decision given by the Authority or statutory manager (including a direction or decision to a person or body of persons referred to in sub‑paragraph (ii)); and

(ii)

a direction or decision given by any chief executive, director, member, executive officer, employee, agent or office holder, or the board of directors, of the licensed trust company,the direction or decision referred to in sub‑paragraph (i) shall, to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency, prevail over the direction or decision referred to in sub‑paragraph (ii); and

(b)

no person shall exercise any voting or other right attached to any share in the licensed trust company in any manner that may defeat or interfere with any duty, function or power of the Authority or statutory manager, and any such act or purported act shall be invalid and of no effect.(10) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (7) or (8) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.(11) In this section, “constitution”, in relation to a licensed trust company, means the memorandum of association and articles of association of the licensed trust company.Duration of control21E.—

(1)

The Authority shall cease to be in control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company when the Authority is satisfied that —

(a)

the reasons for the Authority’s assumption of control of the relevant business have ceased to exist; or

(b)

it is no longer necessary in the interests of the public or the section of the public referred to in section 21C(1)(c)(i) or for the protection of the protected parties of the licensed trust company.(2) A statutory manager shall be deemed to have assumed control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company on the date of his appointment as a statutory manager.(3) The appointment of a statutory manager in relation to the relevant business of a licensed trust company may be revoked by the Authority at any time —

(a)

if the Authority is satisfied that —

(i)

the reasons for the appointment have ceased to exist; or

(ii)

it is no longer necessary in the interests of the public or the section of the public referred to in section 21C(1)(c)(i) or for the protection of the protected parties of the licensed trust company; or

(b)

on any other ground,and upon such revocation, the statutory manager shall cease to be in control of the relevant business of the licensed trust company.(4) The Authority shall, as soon as practicable, publish in the Gazette the date, and such other particulars as the Authority thinks fit, of —

(a)

the Authority’s assumption of control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company;

(b)

the cessation of the Authority’s control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company;

(c)

the appointment of a statutory manager in relation to the relevant business of a licensed trust company; and

(d)

the revocation of a statutory manager’s appointment in relation to the relevant business of a licensed trust company.Responsibilities of officers, member, etc., of licensed trust company21F.—

(1)

During the period when the Authority or statutory manager is in control of the relevant business of a licensed trust company —

(a)

the High Court may, on an application by the Authority or statutory manager, direct any person who has ceased to be or who is still any chief executive, director, member, executive officer, employee, agent, banker, auditor or office holder of, or trustee for, the licensed trust company to pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer to the Authority or statutory manager, within such period as the High Court may specify, any property or book of the licensed trust company which is comprised in, forms part of or relates to the relevant business of the licensed trust company, and which is in the person’s possession or control; and

(b)

any person who has ceased to be or who is still any chief executive, director, member, executive officer, employee, agent, banker, auditor or office holder of, or trustee for, the licensed trust company shall give to the Authority or statutory manager such information as the Authority or statutory manager may require for the discharge of the Authority’s or statutory manager’s duties or functions, or the exercise of the Authority’s or statutory manager’s powers, in relation to the licensed trust company, within such time and in such manner as may be specified by the Authority or statutory manager.(2) Any person who —

(a)

without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1)(b); or

(b)

in purported compliance with subsection (1)(b), knowingly or recklessly furnishes any information or document that is false or misleading in a material particular,shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.Remuneration and expenses of Authority and others in certain cases21G.—

(1)

The Authority may at any time fix the remuneration and expenses to be paid by a licensed trust company —

(a)

to a statutory manager or statutory adviser appointed in relation to the licensed trust company, whether or not the appointment has been revoked; and

(b)

where the Authority has assumed control of the relevant business of the licensed trust company, to the Authority and any person appointed by the Authority under section 73 in relation to the Authority’s assumption of control of the relevant business, whether or not the Authority has ceased to be in control of the relevant business.(2) The licensed trust company shall reimburse the Authority any remuneration and expenses payable by the licensed trust company to a statutory manager or statutory adviser.PART IIIBVOLUNTARY TRANSFER OF BUSINESSInterpretation of this Part21H. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —“business” includes affairs, property, right, obligation and liability;“Court” means the High Court or a Judge thereof;“debenture” has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Companies Act (Cap. 50);“property” includes property, right and power of every description;“Registrar of Companies” means the Registrar of Companies appointed under the Companies Act and includes any Deputy or Assistant Registrar of Companies appointed under that Act;“transferee” means a licensed trust company, or a corporation which has applied or will be applying for a trust business licence, to which the whole or any part of a transferor’s business is, is to be or is proposed to be transferred under this Part;“transferor” means a licensed trust company the whole or any part of the business of which is, is to be, or is proposed to be transferred under this Part.Voluntary transfer of business21I.—

(1)

A transferor may transfer the whole or any part of its business (including any business that is not trust business) to a transferee, if —

(a)

the Authority has consented to the transfer;

(b)

the transfer involves the whole or any part of the trust business of the transferor; and

(c)

the Court has approved the transfer.(2) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to the right of a licensed trust company to transfer the whole or any part of its business under any law.(3) The Authority may consent to a transfer under subsection (1)(a) if the Authority is satisfied that —

(a)

the transferee is a fit and proper person; and

(b)

the transferee will conduct the business of the transferor prudently and comply with the provisions of this Act.(4) The Authority may at any time appoint one or more persons to perform an independent assessment of, and furnish a report on, the proposed transfer of a transferor’s business (or any part thereof) under this Part.(5) The remuneration and expenses of any person appointed under subsection (4) shall be paid by the transferor and the transferee jointly and severally.(6) The Authority shall serve a copy of any report furnished under subsection (4) on the transferor and the transferee.(7) The Authority may require a person to furnish, within the period and in the manner specified by the Authority, any information or document that the Authority may reasonably require for the discharge of its duties or functions, or the exercise of its powers, under this Part.(8) Any person who —

(a)

without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (7); or

(b)

in purported compliance with any requirement under subsection (7), knowingly or recklessly furnishes any information or document that is false or misleading in a material particular,shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.(9) Where a person claims, before furnishing the Authority with any information or document that he is required to furnish under subsection (7), that the information or document might tend to incriminate him, the information or document shall not be admissible in evidence against him in criminal proceedings other than proceedings under subsection (8).Approval of transfer21J.—

(1)

A transferor shall apply to the Court for its approval of the transfer of the whole or any part of the business of the transferor to the transferee under this Part.(2) Before making an application under subsection (1) —

(a)

the transferor shall lodge with the Authority a report setting out such details of the transfer and furnish such supporting documents as the Authority may specify;

(b)

the transferor shall obtain the consent of the Authority under section 21I(1)(a);

(c)

the transferor and the transferee shall, if they intend to serve on their respective protected parties a summary of the transfer, obtain the Authority’s approval of the summary;

(d)

the transferor shall, at least 15 days before the application is made but not earlier than one month after the report referred to in paragraph (a) is lodged with the Authority, publish in the Gazette and in such newspaper or newspapers as the Authority may determine a notice of the transferor’s intention to make the application and containing such other particulars as may be prescribed;

(e)

the transferor and the transferee shall keep at their respective offices in Singapore, for inspection by any person who may be affected by the transfer, a copy of the report referred to in paragraph (a) for a period of 15 days after the publication of the notice referred to in paragraph (d) in the Gazette; and

(f)

unless the Court directs otherwise, the transferor and the transferee shall serve on their respective protected parties affected by the transfer, at least 15 days before the application is made, a copy of the report referred to in paragraph (a) or a summary of the transfer approved by the Authority under paragraph (c).(3) The Authority and any person who, in the opinion of the Court, is likely to be affected by the transfer —

(a)

shall have the right to appear before and be heard by the Court in any proceedings relating to the transfer; and

(b)

may make any application to the Court in relation to the transfer.(4) The Court shall not approve the transfer if the Authority has not consented under section 21I(1)(a) to the transfer.(5) The Court may, after taking into consideration the views, if any, of the Authority on the transfer —

(a)

approve the transfer without modification or subject to any modification agreed to by the transferor and the transferee; or

(b)

refuse to approve the transfer.(6) If the transferee is not granted a trust business licence by the Authority, the Court may approve the transfer on terms that the transfer shall take effect only in the event of the transferee being granted a trust business licence by the Authority.(7) The Court may by the order approving the transfer or by any subsequent order provide for all or any of the following matters:

(a)

the transfer to the transferee of the whole or any part of the business of the transferor;

(b)

the allotment or appropriation by the transferee of any share, debenture, policy or other interest in the transferee which under the transfer is to be allotted or appropriated by the transferee to or for any person;

(c)

the continuation by (or against) the transferee of any legal proceedings pending by (or against) the transferor;

(d)

the dissolution, without winding up, of the transferor;

(e)

the provisions to be made for persons who are affected by the transfer;

(f)

such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as are, in the opinion of the Court, necessary to secure that the transfer is fully effective.(8) Any order under subsection (7) may —

(a)

provide for the transfer of any business, whether or not the transferor otherwise has the capacity to effect the transfer in question;

(b)

make provision in relation to any property which is held by the transferor as trustee; and

(c)

make provision as to any future or contingent right or liability of the transferor, including provision as to the construction of any instrument under which any such right or liability may arise.(9) Subject to subsection (10), where an order made under subsection (7) provides for the transfer to the transferee of the whole or any part of the transferor’s business, then by virtue of the order the business (or part thereof) of the transferor specified in the order shall be transferred to and vest in the transferee, free in the case of any particular property (if the order so directs) from any charge which by virtue of the transfer is to cease to have effect.(10) No order under subsection (7) shall have any effect or operation in transferring or otherwise vesting land in Singapore until the appropriate entries are made with respect to the transfer or vesting of that land by the appropriate authority.(11) If any business specified in an order under subsection (7) is governed by the law of any foreign country or territory, the Court may order the transferor to take all necessary steps for securing that the transfer of the business to the transferee is fully effective under the law of that country or territory.(12) Where an order is made under this section, the transferor and the transferee shall each lodge within 7 days after the order is made —

(a)

a copy of the order with the Registrar of Companies and with the Authority; and

(b)

where the order relates to land in Singapore, an office copy of the order with the appropriate authority concerned with the registration or recording of dealings in that land.(13) A transferor or transferee which contravenes subsection (12), and every officer of the transferor or transferee (as the case may be) who fails to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance by the transferor or transferee (as the case may be) with that subsection, shall each be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $200 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.”;

(f)

by inserting, immediately after the words “one half of” in section 69(1), the words “the amount of”;

(g)

by inserting, immediately after subsection (1) of section 69, the following subsection:“(1A) The Authority may, in its discretion, compound any offence under this Act (including an offence under a provision which has been repealed) which —

(a)

was compoundable under this section at the time the offence was committed; but(b)has ceased to be so compoundable,by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum of money not exceeding one half of the amount of the maximum fine prescribed for that offence at the time it was committed.”;

(h)

by deleting the words “such sum of money” in section 69(2) and substituting the words “the sum of money referred to in subsection (1) or (1A)”;

(i)

by deleting subsection (4) of section 69 and substituting the following subsection:“(4) All sums collected by the Authority under subsection (1) or (1A) shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.”;

(j)

by deleting subsection (8) of section 74 and substituting the following subsection:“(8) It shall not be necessary to publish any code, guideline, policy statement, practice note or no-action letter issued under this section in the Gazette.”; and

(k)

by deleting subsection (4) of section 76 and substituting the following subsection:“(4) It shall not be necessary to publish any direction issued under subsection (1) in the Gazette.”.