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Laws and Regulations Database of the Central Bank of the Republic of China-Article Content

Title:Directions Governing Designated Dealers for Open Market Operations Open new window for Chinese

Announced Date:August 06, 1999

Date:March 21, 2005

[Print]
1.These Directions are prescribed by the Central Bank of China (hereafter 
 referred to as "the Bank") to implement a system of designated dealers 
 in open market operations for the purpose of strengthening the efficiency
 of open market operations and promoting the sound development of financial 
 markets.
2.Counterparties involved in open market operations for purchases or sales of 
 eligible securities as specified in article 26 of the Central Bank of China
 Act shall be limited to designated dealers for open market operations (
 hereafter referred to as "designated dealers"). Designated dealers are 
 classified into the following two categories:
 (1)General designated dealers: those able to comply with the Bank's financial 
   adjustment policies.
 (2)Primary dealers in central government bonds market: those able to bolster 
   trading and promote the sound development of the government bonds market.
3.A bank or the Chunghwa Post Co., Ltd. may apply to the Bank as a general 
 designated dealer if the following criteria are met:
 (1)Net worth after closing the book for the most recent year of least NT$20 
   billion.
 (2)Long-term credit rating for the most recent year meets one of the following
   criteria:
   i.  A rating of A- or above by Standard & Poor's Corporation.
   ii. A rating of A3 or above by Moody's Investors Service.
   iii.A rating of A- or above by Fitch Ratings Ltd.
   iv. A rating of twA- or above by Taiwan Ratings Corporation.
   v.  A rating of A-(twn) or above by Fitch Ratings Ltd., Taiwan Branch.
   vi. A rating of A3.tw or above by Moody's Taiwan Corporation.
 (3)The ratio of equity capital to risk assets of each applicant shall not be 
   less than 8% as filed to the most recent report to the competent authority.
 Chunghwa Post Co., Ltd. may be exempt from subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the 
 preceding paragraph with the Bank's consent.
4.In addition to participating in the Bank's open market operations as a
 counterparty, a general designated dealer is entitled to:
 (1)Request the Bank for financial assistance in funding needs which arise 
   from compliance with the Bank's policies.
 (2)Possess other rights or privileges agreed by the Bank or the Interbank Money 
   Center, of R.O.C. Bankers Association (hereafter referred to as "Interbank 
   Money Center").
5.A general designated dealer shall:
 (1)Complies with the Bank's policies and adjusts market funds.
 (2)Actively participates in the Bank's open market operations and in auction 
   bids for certificates of deposits issued by the Bank.
 (3)Offers two-way price quotations in the Interbank call loan markets where such
   dealer has a certain market shares by trading volume.
 (4)Complies with the "By-laws to be implemented by General Designated Dealers 
   for Open Market Operations".
 (5)Provides market information to the Bank when required.
 (6)Others required by the Bank.
 The "By-laws to be Implemented by General Designated Dealers for Open Market 
 Operations" as referred to in subparagraph 4 of the preceding paragraph shall 
 be drafted by the Interbank Money Center and submitted to the Bank for approvals.
6.A bank, bills finance company, or securities company may apply to the Bank to 
 become a primary dealer in central government bonds market if the following 
 criteria are met:
 (1)Possesses the central government bond dealer specified in Direction 3 of "
   Directions for the Sale of Central Government Bonds."
 (2)Net worth after closing the book for the most recent year meets the
   following requirements:
   i. Net worth of a bank shall comply with subparagraph 1, paragraph 1, 
    Direction 3.
  ii. Net worth of a bills finance company or securities company shall be at 
    least NT$6 billion.
 (3)Except that subparagraph 2, paragraph 1, Direction 3 shall apply to a bank,
   the long-term credit rating of a bills finance company and a securities 
   company for the most recent year shall meet one of the following criteria:
   i.   A rating of BBB- or above by Standard & Poor's Corpration.
   ii.  A rating of Baa3 or above by Moody's Investors Service.
   iii. A rating of BBB- or above by Fitch Ratings Ltd.
   iv.  A rating of twBBB- or above by Taiwan Ratings Corpration.
   v.   A rating of BBB-(twn) or above by Fitch Ratings Ltd., Taiwan Branch.
   vi.  A rating of Baa3.tw or above by Moody's Taiwan Corporation.
 (4)The ratio of equity capital to risk assets reported to the competent
   authority during the most recent time shall meet the following standards:
   i.   The ratio of a bank shall meet the standard as specified in subparagraph
     3, paragraph 1, Direction 3.
   ii.  The ratio of a bills finance company shall be at least 8%.
   iii. The ratio of a securities company shall be at least 200%.
7.In addition to participating in the Bank's open market operations as a 
 counterparty, a primary dealer in central government bonds market shall be 
 entitled to:
 (1)Request the Bank for assistance in funding needs arising from compliance 
   with the Bank's policies.
 (2)Possess the following privileges provided by the non-profit Gre Tai
   Securities Market") regulations:
   i.  Preferential daily net trading positions in the computer-assisted
     Securities Market of R.O.C.(hereafter referred to as "Gre Tai trading 
     system for purchasing / selling government bonds.
   ii. Preferential bond service charges.
 (3)Possess other rights or privileges granted by the Bank or Gre Tai 
   Securities Market.
8.A primary dealer in central government bonds market shall:
 (1)Complies with the Bank's policies.
 (2)Actively participates in the Bank's open market operations.
 (3)Actively engages in auction bids for central government bonds,
   when-issued trading of central government bonds, and two-way price 
   quotations in secondary markets for central government bonds.
 (4)In either the when-issued trading in primary central government bonds 
   market or the outright trading in secondary bonds market shall maintain a 
   certain proportion of market shares by volume.
 (5)Complies with relevant rules established in "By-laws to be implemented by
   Primary Dealers in Central Government Bonds Market."
 (6)Provides market information to the Bank when required.
 (7)Others required by the Bank.
 The "By-laws to be Implemented by Primary Dealers in Central Government Bonds 
 Market" in subparagraph 5 of the preceding paragraph shall be drafted by the 
 Gre Tai Securities Market, and submitted to the Bank for approvals.
9.A designated dealer shall maintain business confidentiality; submit annual 
 financial statements to the Department of Banking of the Bank (hereafter 
 referred to as "the Department of Banking") within four months after the end 
 of each business year; cooperate in on-site examinations conducted by the Bank 
 or, upon the Bank's request, dispatch business executives to the Bank for 
 explanation when requested.
10.When applying for designated dealership, an applicant shall submit completed
  application documents with photocopies of relevant certification and proof of 
  financial status to the Department of Banking. The Bank may approve based on 
  the needs of financial market development.
  When granting its approval in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the 
  Bank may, in light of the financial environment and business needs, restrict 
  the number of designated dealers subordinated of the same financial holding 
  company.
  Application in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be submitted in July each 
  year except as agreed by the Bank.
  The Bank may re-screen a designated dealer when necessary.
  Previously qualified designated dealers shall re-apply within the period 
  specified by the Bank. Designated dealers that fail to re-apply in time or 
  are not approved by the Bank's shall be disqualified.
11.A Designated dealer that wishes to relinquish its status shall inform the
  Department of Banking in writing at least two weeks before the Bank revokes
  its status.
  If designated dealers become subsidiaries of the same financial holding 
  company out of mergers, the Bank may, in accordance with paragraph 2, 
  Direction 10, revoke approval previously granted to designated dealers.
12.The Bank may rescind the status of designated dealers under any of the 
  following conditions; reapplication for designated dealer status may be
  filed only after rectification:
  (1)Net worth fails to meet the following requirement:
   i.  A general designated dealer: subparagraph 1, paragraph 1, Direction 3.
   ii. A primary dealer in central government bonds market: subparagraph 2, 
     Direction 6.
  (2)Long-term credit rating fails to meet the following rating criteria:
   i.  A general designated dealer: subparagraph 2, paragraph 1, Direction 3.
   ii. A primary dealer in central government bonds market: subparagraph 3, 
     Direction 6.
  (3)Ratio of equity capital to risk assets fails to meet the following
   requirement:
   i.  A general designated dealer: subparagraph 3, paragraph 1, Direction 3.
   ii. A primary dealer in central government bonds market: subparagraph 4, 
     Direction 6.
  (4)A primary dealer in central government bonds market becomes disqualified.
13.Where a designated dealer violates the provisions of Direction 9; a general 
  designated dealer violates the provisions of Direction 5 and a primary dealer 
  in central government bonds market violates the provisions of Direction 8, 
  the Bank may serve notice to order rectification; suspend its participation 
  in openmarket operations, or other privileges for a period of between three 
  to six months. The Bank may revoke its status in serious cases; and the dealer
  in question may not re-apply for dealership within one year from the date of 
  such revocation.
14.The Bank may take appropriate measures where a designated dealer violates 
  other laws or regulations.
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