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The Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS“) announced on 7 August 2019 that it has launched the Sandbox Express.
The Sandbox Express provides businesses with a faster option to test certain innovative financial products and services in the market. Eligible applicants can begin market testing in the pre-defined environment of up to 9 months in the Sandbox Express within 21 days of applying to MAS.
JUST IN. MAS Guide to Digital Token Offerings.
The case studies are very helpful in illustrating MAS’ position on whether certain scenarios fall within regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Act (SFA) or Financial Advisers Act (FAA).
Case study 1: tokens only give access rights to token issuer’s platform and pay for services on the same–not subject to SFA or FAA.
Case study 2: tokens to represent share in company which plans to develop property. Will constitute securities under SFA. Company may need to apply to be licensed financial adviser. Company will need to comply with prospectus requirements.
Case study 3: tokens enable holders to receive profits from company’s investments in a portfolio of shares in companies. Token holders have no powers relating to operations or management. Will constitute collective investment scheme (CIS). Company will need to comply with prospectus requirements, and likely will need to apply for capital markets services (CMS) licence.
Case study 4: token holders receive profits from investment in shares of portfolio of companies. Token issue not available to persons in Singapore. Part XIII of SFA will not apply. But company may be carrying on business of fund management in Singapore and may thus need to apply for CMS licence.
Case study 5: tokens represent loan by investor to startup. Token will be deemed a debenture and thus securities under the SFA. Company facilitating purchase or sale of token may require CMS licence.
Case study 6: company plans to set up virtual currency exchange platform. On the premise that no products regulated under SFA will be traded, SFA will not apply. If any token constitutes securities under SFA, then company may be operating a securities market and thus need to be approved as an exchange by MAS.
In January 2017, Parliament passed the Securities and Futures (Amendment) Act 2017 which sought to make changes to the Securities and Futures Act (SFA) administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
It has come into force on 8 October 2018.
Key changes are as follows.
Continue reading “Legislative Update: Securities and Futures (Amendment) Act 2017”