286.—(1) The Authority may, upon an application made to it in such form and manner as may be prescribed and subject to subsection (2) and the conditions specified in subsection (3), authorise a collective investment scheme constituted in Singapore.
(2) The Authority may authorise, under subsection (1), a collective investment scheme which is constituted as a unit trust if and only if the Authority is satisfied that —
(a)
there is a manager for the scheme which satisfies the requirements in subsection (3);
(b)
there is a trustee for the scheme approved under section 289;
(c)
there is a trust deed in respect of the scheme entered into by the manager and the trustee for the scheme that complies with prescribed requirements; and
(d)
the scheme, the manager for the scheme and the trustee for the scheme comply with this Act and the Code on Collective Investment Schemes.
(3) It shall be a condition for the authorisation of a collective investment scheme under subsection (1) that —
(a)
the manager for the scheme is —
(i)
the holder of a capital markets services licence for fund management or a person exempted under section 99(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) in respect of fund management; or
(ii)
a public company which does not carry on business in fund management or is specified in the Third Schedule or is exempted under section 99(1)(e), (f), (g) or (h) in respect of fund management; and
(b)
the manager for the scheme is a fit and proper person, in the opinion of the Authority, and in considering if a person satisfies this requirement, the Authority may take into account any matter relating to —
(i)
any person who is or will be employed by or associated with the manager;
[16/2003 wef 22/12/2003]
(ii)
any person exercising influence over the manager; or
[16/2003 wef 22/12/2003]
(iii)
any person exercising influence over a related corporation of the manager.
[16/2003 wef 22/12/2003]
(4) The Authority may authorise, under subsection (1), a collective investment scheme which is not constituted as a unit trust if and only if the Authority is satisfied that the scheme and the manager for the scheme comply with such requirements as may be prescribed.
(5) The Authority may refuse to authorise any collective investment scheme under subsection (1) where it appears to the Authority that it is not in the public interest to do so.
(6) The Authority shall not refuse to authorise a collective investment scheme under subsection (1) without giving the person who made the application an opportunity to be heard except that an opportunity to be heard need not be given if the refusal is on the ground that it is not in the public interest to authorise the collective investment scheme on the basis of any of the following circumstances:
(a)
the responsible person is in the course of being wound up or otherwise dissolved whether in Singapore or elsewhere;
(c)
a receiver, a receiver and manager or an equivalent person has been appointed, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, in relation to or in respect of any property of the responsible person.
(7) Any person who is aggrieved by the refusal of the Authority to authorise a collective investment scheme under subsection (1) may, within 30 days after he is notified of the decision, appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(8) An application made under subsection (1) shall be accompanied by such information or record as the Authority may require.
(9) The Authority may publish for public information, in such manner as it considers appropriate, particulars of any collective investment scheme authorised under subsection (1).
(10) The responsible person for a collective investment scheme authorised under subsection (1) and the approved trustee for the scheme, to the extent applicable, shall ensure that the conditions and requirements set out in subsections (2), (3) and (4) as applicable to that scheme shall continue to be satisfied.
(11) Notwithstanding subsection (10), a failure by any person to comply with the Code on Collective Investment Schemes shall not of itself render that person liable to criminal proceedings but such failure may, in any proceedings whether civil or criminal, be relied upon by any party to the proceedings as tending to establish or to negate any liability which is in question in the proceedings.
(12) If any person fails to comply with the Code on Collective Investment Schemes, the Authority may, in addition to, or as an alternative to any action under section 288, take such other action as it deems fit.
(13) The responsible person for a collective investment scheme which is authorised under subsection (1) shall furnish such information or record regarding the scheme as the Authority may, at any time, require for the proper administration of this Act.
(14) Where the manager for a collective investment scheme which is constituted as a unit trust and authorised under subsection (1) fails to comply with this Act or the Code on Collective Investment Schemes, the Authority may direct the trustee for the scheme to remove that person and appoint a new manager for the scheme.
(15) Any person who contravenes subsection (10) or (13) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $10,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.