Singapore legislation
Clause 42
Clause 42
New section 55BA
The Banking Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 55B, the following section:“Power to require incorporation and transfer of business55BA.—
The Authority may, by notice in writing to a bank incorporated outside Singapore, direct the bank to transfer the whole or any part of its banking business in Singapore to a company incorporated or to be incorporated by the bank or its parent bank under the Companies Act (Cap. 50).(2) The bank that is so directed by the Authority must —
apply to the Court, within the period specified in the notice (including any extension approved by the Authority), for the Court’s approval of the transfer of the whole or any part of its banking business in Singapore to a company incorporated or to be incorporated by the bank or its parent bank under the Companies Act for the purpose of carrying on that business or that part of the business, and use all reasonable efforts to obtain such approval; and
upon approval of the Court, incorporate such company (if applicable), and transfer that business or that part of the business to the company in accordance with the terms of the approval and within such time as the Authority may specify in the notice (including any extension approved by the Authority).(3) The Authority may only make the direction in subsection (1) if it is of the opinion that —
it is necessary or expedient in the public interest;
it is in the interest of the depositors of the bank; or
it is in the interest of the financial system in Singapore,for the bank to carry out the acts mentioned in that subsection.(4) A bank which fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $250,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $25,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.”.