Past version: Effective from 12 Feb 2021 to 31 Jul 2021
(1) The Exchange may exercise administrative powers for the purposes of ensuring that the market is fair, orderly and transparent, and that the Exchange does not act contrary to the interests of the investing public, including the powers to:
(a) issue public queries to an issuer;
(b) require an issuer to make specified disclosures;
(ba) require any Relevant Person to provide information, documents or electronic records to the Exchange;
(c) withhold approval of circulars and notices of meetings submitted by an issuer for review;
(d) require an issuer to obtain the prior approval of the Exchange under Rule 720(3)(a), for a period not exceeding 3 years, for the appointment of a director or an executive officer;
(e) object to the appointments of individual directors or executive officers in any issuer for a period not exceeding 3 years;
(f) require an issuer to appoint special auditors, additional auditors, compliance advisers, legal advisers or other independent professionals for specified purposes;
(fa) require the special auditors’ or additional auditors’ findings to be reported to the Exchange, the issuer’s Audit Committee or such other party as the Exchange may direct;
(fb) object to the appointment of an auditor or require an issuer to replace the auditor if the Exchange is of the opinion that it is in the interest of shareholders to do so or that the new auditor does not satisfy the requirement in Rule 712. This rule does not apply to a financial institution licensed or approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore;
(g) waive or modify compliance with a listing rule (or part of a rule);
(h) place an issuer on the watch-list;
(j) remove an issuer from the Official List under Rules 724(2), 1018(2), 1304, 1305(4) and 1315; and
(k) impose any other requirements on a Relevant Person which the Exchange considers appropriate.
(2) The circumstances under which the Exchange may exercise its powers under Rule 1405(1)(e) include:
(a) where the director or executive officer has refused to extend cooperation to the Exchange or other regulatory agencies on regulatory matters; and
(b) where the director or executive officer has wilfully contravened any relevant laws, rules and regulations.
(3) The Exchange may exercise investigative and enforcement powers for the purposes of enforcing the Exchange's listing rules, including the powers to:
(a) initiate and conduct investigations against a Relevant Person;
(b) initiate disciplinary proceedings against a Relevant Person;
(c) take enforcement action against a Relevant Person including the following;
(i) issuing a private warning to a Relevant Person;
(ii) offering a composition sum to an issuer;
(iii) requiring an issuer to implement an effective education or compliance programme;
(iv) requiring an issuer's directors or executive officers to undertake a mandatory education or training programme;
(v) requiring an issuer to undertake an independent review of internal controls and processes;
(vi) requiring an issuer to obtain the prior approval of the Exchange, for a period not exceeding 3 years, for the appointment of a director or an executive officer;
(vii) objecting to the appointments of individual directors or executive officers in any issuer for a period not exceeding 3 years;
(viii) requiring an issuer to appoint independent advisers to minority shareholders;
(ix) requiring an issuer to appoint special auditors, compliance advisers, legal advisers or other independent professionals for specified purposes;
(x) requiring a Relevant Person to perform other remedial action to rectify the consequences of contraventions;
(xi) imposing conditions on the accreditation of an issue manager;
(xii) suspending or restricting the activities of an issue manager if the integrity of the market may be adversely affected or if the Exchange thinks it necessary in the interests of the public or for the protection of investors. The Exchange will refer the matter to the Disciplinary Committee within 14 days from the date of suspension or restriction, whereupon the Disciplinary Committee will determine if the suspension or restriction should be lifted or should be continued for a specified period not exceeding 3 years;
(xiii) halting or suspending trading of listed securities of an issuer;
(xiv) removing an issuer from the Official List; and
(xv) imposing any other requirements on a Relevant Person which the Exchange considers appropriate.
(4) Where a Relevant Person does not comply with requirements imposed by the Exchange set out in Part III of this Chapter, the Relevant Person shall be deemed to have contravened the Exchange's listing rules.
Added on 7 October 20157 October 2015 and amended on 7 February 20207 February 2020 and 12 February 2021.