MAS 1105

28 May 2004

NOTICE TO MERCHANT BANKS

MAS Notice 1105 dated 20 March 2002 is cancelled

Lending of Singapore Dollar to Non-Resident Financial Institutions

1       Scope

1.1   This Notice issued pursuant to section 28(3) of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Act (Cap 186) governs the lending of S$ by merchant banks to non-resident financial institutions.

1.2   This Notice does not apply to the lending of S$ to individuals and non-financial institutions (including corporate treasury centres).

1.3   This Notice does not permit merchant banks to engage in financial activities beyond the scope of the Guidelines for Operation of Merchant Banks or in contravention of other MAS Notices, Directions or Guidelines.

2       Definitions:

2.1   In this Notice:

2.1.1   "Entities" include legal entities, partnerships/firms and other forms of business vehicles.

2.1.2   "Financial institutions" means entities whose main business is in financial services, including one or more of the following:

(a) banking
(b) merchant banking
(c) investment banking
(d) financing
(e) insurance
(f) securities dealing
(g) asset / fund management (including hedge funds)
(h) money, futures, and prime brokering
(i) other types of financial activity that MAS may designate in writing.

2.1.3   "Non-residents" means entities which do not fall within the definition of a resident.

2.1.4   "Residents" means:

2.1.5   "S$ credit facilities" include loans, contingent credit lines and foreign exchange swaps involving a sale of S$ to a non-resident financial institution in the first leg of the transaction.

3       S$ Credit Facilities

3.1   Merchant banks may lend S$ to non-resident financial institutions for any purpose whether in Singapore or elsewhere as long as the aggregate S$ credit facilities do not exceed S$5 million per entity¹.

3.2   For the amounts exceeding S$5 million per entity, the following conditions apply:

(a)   Where the S$ proceeds are to be used outside Singapore, merchant banks shall ensure that the S$ proceeds are swapped or converted into foreign currency upon draw-down.

(b)   Notwithstanding paragraph 3.2(a), merchant banks may extend temporary S$ overdrafts of any amount to vostro accounts of non-resident financial institutions for the purpose of preventing settlement failures. However, merchant banks must take reasonable efforts to ensure that the overdrafts are covered within two business days.

(c)   Notwithstanding paragraphs 3.2 (a) and (b), merchant banks shall not extend S$ credit facilities to non-resident financial institutions if there is reason to believe that the S$ proceeds may be used for S$ currency speculation.

3.3   Merchant banks are required to report to MAS, monthly, their aggregate outstanding S$ lending to non-resident financial institutions in the format in Appendix 1 (PDF, 66.8KB). A nil return is required. All information required in Appendix 1 shall be submitted to the Monetary Management Division, MAS no later than 10 working days after the reporting month. Merchant banks shall keep documentary evidence supporting these S$ credit facilities for audit and inspection purposes.

4       S$ Equity and Bond Issuance

4.1   Merchant banks may arrange S$ equity or bond issues for non-resident financial institutions. If the S$ proceeds are to be used outside Singapore, they shall be swapped or converted into foreign currency before remitting abroad.

5       Consultation Procedure

5.1   Should merchant banks need to consult MAS, they may write to: