Singapore legislation

Regulation 2

of Financial Advisers Regulations

Regulation 2

Definitions

Amended byS 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 29/2019 wef 08/04/2019S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 29/2019 wef 08/04/2019S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 294/2019 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 294/2019 wef 08/10/2018S 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 274/2008 wef 28/05/2008S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 700/2021 wef 18/09/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 274/2008 wef 28/05/2008S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 383/2012 wef 07/08/2012S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 462/2021 wef 01/07/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 462/2021 wef 01/07/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 586/2017 wef 20/10/2017S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 586/2017 wef 20/10/2017S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Subregulation 1

Amended byS 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 29/2019 wef 08/04/2019S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 29/2019 wef 08/04/2019S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 294/2019 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 294/2019 wef 08/10/2018S 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 274/2008 wef 28/05/2008S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 700/2021 wef 18/09/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 274/2008 wef 28/05/2008S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 383/2012 wef 07/08/2012S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 462/2021 wef 01/07/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 462/2021 wef 01/07/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 586/2017 wef 20/10/2017S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 586/2017 wef 20/10/2017S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —[Deleted by S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018][Deleted by S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018](2) For the purposes of the definition of “net asset value” in paragraph (1) —

(a)

in determining the value of the assets owned by a corporation, any amount on account of goodwill or of any other intangible assets shall be disregarded; and

(b)

in determining the amount of the liabilities of a corporation —

(i)

all contingent or prospective liabilities shall be taken into account; and

(ii)

any amount on account of any liability related to the share capital of the corporation shall not be taken into account.

Definition

“accounting standards” means the accounting standards made or formulated by the Accounting Standards Committee under Part 3 of the Accounting Standards Act 2007;

Amended byS 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025

Definition

“accredited investor” means any of the following persons in relation to a counterparty, if the person has opted to be treated by the counterparty as an accredited investor for all the consent provisions, under regulation 3(2) of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 (G.N. No. S 665/2018):

(a)

an individual mentioned in section 4A(1)(a)(i) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

(b)

a corporation mentioned in section 4A(1)(a)(ii) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

(c)

a trustee mentioned in section 4A(1)(a)(iii) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

(d)

a person mentioned in section 4A(1)(a)(iv) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 29/2019 wef 08/04/2019S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“advertisement” means any dissemination or conveyance of information in connection with a promotion of, or an invitation or a solicitation in respect of, any product or service, by any means or in any form, including by means of —

(a)

publication in a newspaper, magazine, journal or other periodical;

(b)

display of posters or notices;

(c)

circulars, handbills, brochures, pamphlets, books or other documents;

(d)

letters addressed to individuals or bodies;

(e)

photographs or cinematograph films; or

(f)

sound broadcasting, television, the Internet or other media;

Amended byS 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018

Definition

“approved exchange” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“associate”, in relation to an entity (called in this definition the first entity), means —

(a)

any entity in which the first entity controls the composition of the board of directors or such corresponding officers as may be prescribed;

(b)

any entity in which the first entity controls more than half of the voting power or such measure corresponding to voting power as may be prescribed;

(c)

any entity in which the first entity holds more than half of the total number of issued shares or such corresponding interest as may be prescribed;

(d)

a subsidiary of any other entity which is an associate by reason of paragraph (a), (b) or (c);

(e)

any entity (called in this paragraph the second entity) in which —

(i)

the first entity; or

(ii)

any entity which is an associate by reason of paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d),has, or the entities in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) together have, an interest in shares entitling the beneficial owners of those interests the right to cast (whether by proxy or in person) not less than 20% but not more than 50% of the total votes able to be cast at a general meeting of the second entity, or such corresponding interest as may be prescribed; or

(f)

any entity (not being one which is an associate by reason of paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e)) the policies of which —

(i)

the first entity; or

(ii)

any entity which is an associate by reason of paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e),is, or the entities in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) together are, able to control or influence materially;

Amended byS 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025

Definition

“bonds” includes —

(a)

any note, bond or Treasury Bill;

(b)

an option in respect of any note, bond or Treasury Bill; and

(c)

such other securities or class of securities as the Authority may from time to time, by a guideline issued by the Authority, determine;

Definition

“capital markets products” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“capital markets services licence” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“client’s money or property” has the same meaning as in section 37(4) of the Act;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“consent provision” and “counterparty” have the same meanings as in regulation 3(9) of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018;

Amended byS 29/2019 wef 08/04/2019

Definition

“derivatives contract” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“entity” includes a corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership and the government of any state, but does not include a trust;

Amended byS 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005

Definition

“ex-accredited investor” means any of the following:

(a)

an individual who was an accredited investor under section 4A(1)(a)(i) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 as in force immediately before 8 October 2018, but who ceases to be an accredited investor under section 4A(1)(a)(i), read with section 4A(1A), of that Act as in force on or after 8 October 2018; (b)a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership within the meaning of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005) in which each partner was an accredited investor under section 4A(1)(a) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 as in force immediately before 8 October 2018, but any individual partner of which ceases to be an accredited investor under section 4A(1)(a)(i), read with section 4A(1A), of that Act as in force on or after 8 October 2018;

(c)

a corporation (the sole business of which is to hold investments) the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more accredited investors under section 4A(1)(a) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 as in force immediately before 8 October 2018, but any individual of such accredited investors ceases to be an accredited investor under section 4A(1)(a)(i), read with section 4A(1A), of that Act as in force on or after 8 October 2018;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 294/2019 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“exchange-traded derivatives contract” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“existing customer”, in relation to a person (A), means —

(a)

a person (B) to whom A has provided any financial advisory service before 8 October 2018, and who was treated by A as an accredited investor when A provided that financial advisory service to B; or

(b)

a person (C) with whom A has entered into an agreement before 8 October 2018 to provide any financial advisory service, and who was treated as an accredited investor when A entered into the agreement with C;

Amended byS 294/2019 wef 08/10/2018

Definition

“expert investor” has the same meaning as in section 4A(1)(b) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 274/2008 wef 28/05/2008S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“foreign company” has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Companies Act 1967;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“foreign exchange OTC derivatives contract” means an OTC derivatives contract entered into on a margin basis the value of which is determined by reference to, is derived from, or varies by reference to —

(a)

the value or amount of any currency or currency index; or

(b)

fluctuations in the values or amounts of any currency or currency index;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018

Definition

“futures contract” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“Government securities” means specified products issued or proposed to be issued by the Government, and includes —

(a)

any debenture, security, stock, bond, certificate or similar instrument issued or proposed to be issued by the Government under any written law or repealed written law; or

(b)

any right or option issued or proposed to be issued by the Government in respect of any instrument mentioned in paragraph (a);

Amended byS 700/2021 wef 18/09/2021

Definition

“guideline issued by the Authority” means a guideline or other document issued by the Authority under section 74 of the Act;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“Guidelines on Fit and Proper Criteria” means the document by that title issued by the Authority and published on its website, as revised from time to time;

Amended byS 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025

Definition

“institutional investor” has the same meaning as in section 4A(1)(c) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 362/2005 wef 01/07/2005S 274/2008 wef 28/05/2008S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“leveraged foreign exchange trading” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“net asset value”, in relation to a corporation, means the excess of the value of the assets owned by the corporation over its liabilities;

Definition

“net head office funds”, in relation to a foreign company, means the net liability of the Singapore branch of that foreign company to its head office and any other branch outside of Singapore;

Definition

“on a margin basis”, in relation to a contract, means the entering of a contract by 2 parties where one party provides to the other party (whether directly or indirectly through such party’s agent) with money, securities, property or other collateral which represents only a part of the value of the contract;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018

Definition

“over-the-counter derivatives contract” or “OTC derivatives contract” means a derivatives contract other than an exchange-traded derivatives contract;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018

Definition

“overseas exchange” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“paid-up capital” means ordinary shares and non-redeemable preference shares that have been fully paid for;

Amended byS 383/2012 wef 07/08/2012

Definition

“product advertisement” means an advertisement in respect of any investment product;

Amended byS 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018

Definition

“specified financial adviser” —

(a)

in the case of regulation 39, has the meaning as in regulation 40B; and

(b)

in any other case, means a licensed financial adviser or an exempt financial adviser mentioned in section 20(1)(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of the Act;

Amended byS 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 62/2025 wef 24/01/2025

Definition

“specified investment product” means —

(a)

any specified OTC derivatives contract;

(b)

any foreign exchange OTC derivatives contract arranged by —

(i)

any bank that holds a licence granted under section 7 or 79 of the Banking Act 1970; or

(ii)

any merchant bank that holds a merchant bank licence, or is treated as having been granted a merchant bank licence, under the Banking Act 1970; or

(c)

any spot foreign exchange contract for the purposes of leveraged foreign exchange trading arranged by —

(i)

any bank that holds a licence granted under section 7 or 79 of the Banking Act 1970; or

(ii)

any merchant bank that holds a merchant bank licence, or is treated as having been granted a merchant bank licence, under the Banking Act 1970;

Amended byS 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 462/2021 wef 01/07/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021S 462/2021 wef 01/07/2021S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“specified OTC derivatives contract” means an OTC derivatives contract the value of which is determined by reference to, is derived from, or varies by reference to —

(a)

the value or amount of any item other than any —

(i)

securities;

(ii)

securities index;

(iii)

currency; or

(iv)

currency index; or

(b)

fluctuations in the values or amounts of one or more items other than any —

(i)

securities;

(ii)

securities index;

(iii)

currency; or

(iv)

currency index;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018

Definition

“specified person” —

(a)

in the case of regulation 40F, has the meaning under that provision; and

(b)

in any other case, means —

(i)

a specified financial adviser; or

(ii)

an appointed representative or a provisional representative of a specified financial adviser;

Amended byS 385/2018 wef 09/07/2018

Definition

“specified products” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“spot foreign exchange contract” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001;

Amended byS 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“venture capital fund” has the same meaning as in regulation 14(8) of the Securities and Futures (Licensing and Conduct of Business) Regulations (Rg 10);

Amended byS 586/2017 wef 20/10/2017S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021

Definition

“venture capital fund manager” means a holder of a capital markets services licence for fund management under the Securities and Futures Act 2001 who does not carry on business in any regulated activity (as defined in that Act) other than the management of portfolios of specified products on behalf of venture capital funds.

Amended byS 586/2017 wef 20/10/2017S 659/2018 wef 08/10/2018S 222/2023 wef 31/12/2021