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Laws and Regulations Database of the Central Bank of the Republic of China-Article Content
[Law Basis] [Print]

Section 2  Management of Foreign Exchange Business

Article 9  
Securities enterprises engaging in foreign exchange business shall first verify the identity or primary registration data of the client, and ensure that supporting documents comply with regulations. Securities enterprises shall also properly retain client data and transaction records for at least five (5) years after the completion of the transaction or the closing of client's account.

Article 10 
When engaging in foreign exchange business, securities enterprises shall disclose fully to the clients foreign exchange related risks, and shall not offer prediction on the future movements of the NTD exchange rates. The letter of approval issued by the Bank is merely an approval for the securities enterprise to engage in relevant foreign exchange businesses, which shall not be publicized as the Bank's endorsement for the safety or performance of related business or used in other inappropriate ways.

Article 11  
A securities enterprise’s coverage of currency risk exposure arising from its foreign exchange business shall be carried out by its head office through an authorized bank, an offshore banking unit or an overseas financial institution. A securities enterprise shall heed its foreign exchange risk and draft its own foreign exchange risk management rules based on the foreign exchange business conducted. After the rules have been passed by its board of directors, all its offices shall abide by these rules and conduct audits regularly.

Article 12  
When a securities enterprise has needs for a certain foreign currency arising out of its securities-related foreign exchange business, the securities enterprise may raise the foreign currency through the following means: 1.The securities enterprise may engage in foreign exchange swap or cross currency swap  between NTD and the foreign currency with authorized banks; 2.For hedge trading to cover equity risk associated with offshore exchange-traded fund  positions held, the securities enterprise may obtain a foreign currency loan from an  authorized bank with the transaction document or the Bank’s approval document, or  borrow money from an overseas financial institution; 3.When carrying out a proprietary trade in foreign securities, the securities  enterprise may obtain a foreign currency loan from an authorized bank or an  overseas financial institution with the transaction confirmation or document from  the counterparty. For such a loan, the securities enterprise shall sign an  affidavit undertaking that“proceeds from the sale of originally purchased foreign  security will be remitted into the securities enterprise’s designated repayment  account opened at the lending bank”to ensure that the loan will not be used as  working capital. 4.When a securities enterprise underwrites an international bond on a firm commitment  basis or a standby commitment basis, the enterprise may use the underwritten bond as  collateral to obtain a foreign currency loan from an authorized bank in compliance  with the following rules: (1)Required documentation: The Bank’s letter of approval or underwriting related   contractual document and relevant documents evidencing the amount of settlement   payable by the enterprise; (2)Loan amount: Up to 60% of payment (to the bond issuer); and (3)Tenor of loan: Loan shall be repaid no later than the maturity date of the   underwritten bond or when the bond is sold. 5.A securities enterprise may obtain a foreign currency call loan from an authorized  bank or an overseas financial institution. When acquiring a foreign currency loan or a call loan, securities enterprises shall also comply with the following rules: 1.The total balance of foreign currency loans plus foreign currency call loans from  other financial institutions shall not exceed 100% of its networth as shown in its  CPA audited or certified financial statements plus the balance of unsold committed  foreign currency bonds; 2.The total balance of foreign currency loans plus foreign currency call loans  mentioned in the preceding subparagraph shall include those foreign currency loans  and call loans obtained by its offshore securities unit (OSU) from authorized banks,  offshore banking units and overseas financial institutions, but excluding  transactions between the OSU and the head office; 3.The tenor of foreign currency call loans handled by securities enterprises shall not  be longer than one year; and 4.Proceeds from foreign currency loans and call loans may not be converted into NTD,  and unless with the Bank’s approval, the sources of funds for loan repayment may not  come from foreign exchange purchase with NTD.

Article 13   
Securities enterprises that have been approved by the Bank to engage in securities- related foreign exchange business may, within the scope of its permitted businesses, handle the offshore securities business and related tax matters on behalf of an OSU of the same securities firm. Such business handled by the securities firm shall be booked on the account books of the OSU. When handling the services on behalf of an OSU mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the securities enterprise shall observe the Offshore Banking Act, Enforcement Rules of the Offshore Banking Act, Regulations Governing Offshore Securities Units, as well as other applicable regulations.
Article 14
When the foreign exchange business carried out by a securities enterprise involves 
outward and inward remittance of fund or foreign exchange settlement against NTD, the 
securities enterprise shall deal with an authorized bank in accordance with the 
Regulations Governing the Declaration of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Disbursements 
or Transactions (hereinafter referred to as “Declaration Regulations”), Directions 
Governing Banking Enterprises for Operating Foreign Exchange Business (hereinafter 
referred to as “Operating Directions”), and Directions for Banking Enterprises on 
Assisting Clients to Declare Foreign Exchange Receipts and Disbursements or 
Transactions.
[Related Regulations]
Unless special provisions apply to the foreign exchange settlement, securities 
enterprises shall observe the following rules when handling receipts and payments 
associated with their foreign exchange business:
1.Where the receipt/payment of the foreign exchange business is in foreign currency, 
 the client shall carry out foreign exchange settlement at an authorized bank in 
 accordance with the Declaration Regulations, or the payment may be transferred from 
 the client’s foreign exchange deposit account;
2.When accepting orders to trade foreign securities, conducting wealth management
 business by means of non-discretionary individually managed money trust, or 
 purchasing and redeeming of offshore funds by a master agent or its mandated 
 sub-distributors of an offshore fund institution in NTD, the securities enterprise
 shall carry out foreign exchange settlement at an authorized bank in accordance
 with the Declaration Regulations; and
3.Foreign exchange settlement shall be carried out at an authorized bank based on 
 the exact amount of the transaction. Unless with the Bank’s approval, settlement 
 on a net basis after offset of receipts and payments is not allowed.
Article 15
Securities enterprises shall submit requested reports in five (5) business days 
after the end of each month, and ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 
reports. The format of the reports and related matters shall be prescribed 
separately by the Bank. 
With regard to the review of reports submitted by securities enterprises, the Bank 
may dispatch personnel to inspect the relevant account books and documents, or 
request securities enterprises to provide truthful relevant documents or information 
within a prescribed period of time if deemed necessary.

Article 16  
The Bank may suspend, revoke or cancel its approval in part or in whole the foreign exchange business engaged by a securities enterprise, or put a moratorium on its application either for new foreign exchange business or for adding branches to carry out foreign exchange business in the event of any of the following: 1.The securities enterprise fails to commence operation within six months after being  issued a letter of approval. A securities enterprise may request for an extension  with reasons. If approved, the securities enterprise may have an extension of no  more than three months. An institution may apply for extension only once ; 2.The securities enterprise has seriously violated the provisions of these Regulations,  or was asked by the Bank to act, but has failed to rectify the situation within the  period specified by the Bank; 3.After being issued a letter of approval to engage in foreign exchange business, the  securities enterprise was found to have provided false information in its application  which is deemed a serious violation; 4.The securities enterprise suspends operations, is dissolved, or declares bankruptcy; or 5.There is other evidence indicating that the applicant has a situation that hinders the  sound operation of the business, or that the applicant is unable to meet financial  policy requirements. A securities enterprise, which has its business approval revoked or cancelled according to the preceding paragraph, shall surrender the letter of approval to the Bank within seven (7) days after the receipt of the sanction. If the letter of approval is not surrendered within seven days, the Bank shall cancel the business approval by public announcement.
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