Past version: Effective from 29 Sep 2011 to 18 May 2016
(1) An issuer must appoint a suitable trustee to represent the holders of its debt securities listed on the Exchange. A company which holds a trust business license under the Trust Companies Act satisfies this rule.
(2) The trustee must have no interest in or relation to the issuer which may conflict with its role as trustee.
(3) If the trustee ceases to perform its function, the issuer must appoint another suitable trustee.
(4) The directors of the issuer must confirm that a suitable trustee has been appointed. The confirmation must be submitted to the Exchange prior to the issue of the debt securities.
(5) A trust deed governing the issue of debt securities must be executed and contain the requirements in Rule 308(8).
(6) Rule 308(1) to (7) does not apply to:—
(a) an issuer who has been declared a "prescribed corporation" for the purpose of Section 239(4) of the SFA.
(b) a debt issue that is offered only to sophisticated or institutional investors and is traded in a minimum board lot size of S$200,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies following listing.
(7) The issuer must make all its financial and other records available for inspection by the trustee and its agent(s).
(8) A trust deed required by Rule 308(5) must include the following provisions:—
(a) A limitation on the amount that the issuer or any guarantor company may borrow. For the purpose of this limitation:—
(i) any advances made by the issuer or any guarantor company to their holding company, or to any of their subsidiaries or their holding company's subsidiaries; and
(ii) any investment by the issuer or any guarantor company in the shares of their subsidiaries or their holding company's subsidiaries,
must not be brought into account as an asset unless the company to or in which the advance or investment is made is a guarantor company and covenants with the trustee to limit itself to the same limitation of liabilities as the borrowing company.
(b) A covenant that on request in writing by the trustee, the issuer will cause any wholly-owned subsidiary (whether formed or acquired before or after the date of the Trust Deed) of the issuer to become a guarantor company. The covenant may be qualified, but must provide that the trustee is entitled:—
(i) in the case of secured debentures if the value of the security is or is believed by the trustee to have become less than the principal amount outstanding; or
(ii) in the case of debentures or unsecured notes if the ratio limiting the liabilities or borrowing for the purpose of the Trust Deed has been or is believed by the trustee to have been infringed or its maintenance is threatened,
to call upon the issuer to procure any one or more of its subsidiaries (whether formed or acquired before or after the date of the Trust Deed) to become a guarantor company.
(c) The directors of the issuer must prepare a report that relates to each quarter and lodge it with the trustee within one month of the end of the period. The report must be signed by 2 directors and state:
(i) whether or not any limitation of liabilities or borrowings as prescribed by the Trust Deed has been exceeded;
(ii) whether or not the issuer and the guarantor company have observed and performed all the covenants and obligations binding upon them respectively pursuant to the Trust Deed;
(iii) whether or not any event has happened which has caused or could cause the security created by the Trust Deed to become enforceable;
(iv) whether or not any material trading or capital loss has been sustained by the issuer or any guarantor company;
(v) whether or not any circumstances materially affecting the issuer or any guarantor company have occurred which adversely affect the debt securities;
(vi) whether any contingent liabilities have been incurred by the issuer or any guarantor company. If so, to state the amount incurred, and whether or not any contingent liability has matured or is likely to mature within the next twelve months, which will materially affect the ability of the issuer or any guarantor company to repay the debt securities;
(vii) whether or not there has been any change in any accounting method or method of valuation of assets or liabilities;
(viii) whether or not any circumstances have arisen which render adherence to the existing method of valuation of assets or liabilities misleading or inappropriate; and
(ix) any substantial change in the nature of the issuer's or any guarantor company's business since the issue of the debt securities.
(d) Within three months of the expiration of the full year and the half year, the issuer must provide the trustee the consolidated profit and loss account and balance sheet (which must be prepared in accordance with the approved accounting standards) of the issuer and of any guarantor company. The accounts relating to the full year must be audited.
(e) The directors shall notify the trustee immediately when they are aware that any condition of the Trust Deed cannot be fulfilled.
(f) A meeting of holders of debt securities must be called on a requisition in writing signed by holders of at least 10% of the nominal amount of the outstanding debt securities.
Amended on 29 September 201129 September 2011.