SEC Division of Investment Management staff letter: Stock Exchange of Thailand

• "Cy
  l~ AUGe 6"
  .: p Our Ref. No. 93-249-CC
  The Stock Exchange of
  RESPONSE OF THE OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL Thailand DIVISION OF INVESTMENT MAAGEMENT File No. 132-3

Your letter dated October 16, 1992, as supplemented by your

letter dated May 10, 1993, requests our assurance that the Share

Depository Center ("SDC"), a division of The Stock Exchange of

Thailand ("SET"), qualifies as an "eligible foreign custodian" pursuant to subparagraph (c) (2) (iii) of Rule 17f-S under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and that we would

not recommend enforcement action to the Commission if the SDC

serves as an eligible foreign custodian for U. S. registered

investment companies investing in common stocks listed on the

SET. 1.1
The SET is the only stock exchange in Thailand. There is no

over-the-counter market in Thailand. The SET established the SDC

in 1988 to clear and settle securities transactions using a book-

entry system and to act as a central securities depository in

Thailand. The SDC is presently the only entity that operates a

central system for handling securities and the bOOk-entry

settlement of trades executed on the SET. ii

t.
1.1 Section 17 (f) of the 1940 Act provides that every registered

management investment company shall maintain its securities

and similar investments in the custody of (1) a bank meeting

certain requirements, (2) a member of a national securities

exchange, (3) the company itself, in accordance with

Commission rules, or (4) a system for the central handling

of securities pursuant to which all securities of any

particular class or series of any issuer deposited wi thin

the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or

pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of

such securities, in accordance with Commission rules. Rule

17f-S provides an exemption from Section 17(f) permitting a

registered management investment company to deposit foreign

securities in the custody of an "eligible foreign custodian." Rule 17f-S(c) (2) (iii) defines the term "eligible foreign custodian" to include "a securities

deposi tory or clearing agency, incorporated or organized

under the laws of a country other than the United States,

which operates the central system for handling of securities

or equivalent book-entries in that country."

~.~ ii Moreover, you state that the SDC is the only share depository center in Thailand.

The SDC pr.esently handles only common stocks listed on the

SET. ll All securities trades in Thailand cleared outside the

SDC, including transactions executed on the SET, require physical

delivery of certificates. ~I The SDC may, in the future, expand

its services to include other types of securities.

The SDC's participants consist of "Clearing Participants"

and "Non-clearing Participants." Clearing Participants are

direct market participants, ~, the SET's member brokerage

firms which can use SDC's clearing and settlement and depository

service. 51 Non-clearing Participants are indirect market

participants, i. e., sub-brokers, custodian banks, and other

persons designated by the SET which only use the SDC's depository services. We understand that typically a registered investment company

will access the SDC through a custodian bank that is a Non￾clearing Participant. If, for example, the investment company

desires to deposit its eligible portfolio securities in the SDC,

the Non-clearing Participant will present the share certificates

to the SDC, which will issue a receipt, cancel the certificates,

and send the certificates to the issuer. ~I As a result, the

portfolio securities that an investment company deposits with the

SDC will be dematerialized. This will permit the investment

company to engage in scripless transactions in eligible securities. The SET and the SDC are regulated by Thailand i s Securities and Exchange Commission ("Thai SEC"). You represent that the

ll In a telephone conversation on August 24, 1993, Dr. Chaipat

Sahasakul, Senior vice President of the SET, represented

that 99% of common stocks listed on the SET are eligible for

deposit with the SDC. We understand that shares

representing approximately 45% of the total SET market

capitalization are deposited with the SDC.

~I Investors may trade debt securities either on the SET or wi th banks. Investors also may trade government debt

securities with the Bank of Thailand, the central bank of

Thailand. In the August 24 telephone conversation, Dr.

Chaipat Sahasakul represented that all transactions in debt

securities require physical delivery of securities

certif icates and that there is no central system for

handling debt securities.
~I You state that the SET currently has 40 Clearing Participants. §I Investors who deposit shares with the SDC can later obtain physical certificates for a fee.

SET's Board of Governors , with the approval of the Thai SEC, has

power to adopt rules, conditions, and prooedures for the

operation of the. SDC. In addition, the Thai SEC has the

authority to examine the SET's and the SDC's books and

operations. You represent that if, in the future, the SET spins

off the SDC as a separate company, as is presently contemplated,

the SET will retain at least 75% of the SDC's outstanding shares

and the government's regulation of the SDC will remain unchanged.

the
Your letters discuss the safeguards in place, including

penalties, to protect investors if there is a system failure or

if any party to a transaction fails to deliver securities or make

payments. You also represent that the SDC is liable to investors

if securities are lost after being deposited. 21 Further, you

represent that if the SET or SDC became insolvent, securities

deposited with the SDC would not be subject to claims by the

SET's or SDC' s creditors. ~I

On the basis of the facts and representations in your

letters and the above-referenced telephone conversation, we would

not recommend enforcement action to the Commission under Section

17(f) of the 1940 Act or Rule 17f-s, thereunder, if, with respect

to common stocks listed on the SET, the SDC serves as an eligible

foreign custodian for U. S. registered investment companies. You

should note that any different facts or representations might

require a different conclusion. Moreover, this response

expresses the Division's position on enforcement action only and

does not express any legal conclusions on the questions

presented. ót ;:~c' / L/
Richard F. Jackson

Attorney
7 I Telephone conversation with Dr. Chaipat Sahasakul, August

24,1993.
~I Id.

'.
~ 1lll~ (Q&Ik iilZ& (Qfi 1l~rn(! l- SINTHON BUILDING 2nd FLOOR 132 WIRELESS ROAD, BANGKOK 10330 METROPOLIS

"- TEL. 254040-3. 2540960-9 CABLE ADD. SECEXTHAI, FAX: (662) 2543040

SET . 2391/1 992
October 16. 1992

Ms. Marianne K. Smythe

Director
Division of Investment Management

United States Securities and Exchange Commission

450 Fifth Street North West

.: C ..

Washington DC 20549
AeJ
SECTION USA /71'- rcc)(2)(/ì'ì.J RULE
PUBLIC Dear Ms. Smythe: AVAILABILIT ~ / -i 1e;.J

Re: Eliøible Foreign Custodian

Mr. Terry M. Chuppe. Director of International Institute of Securities ~arket Development. u.s. Securities aJid ExchanrC' Commission 'SlC'. has recommended to us to seck your advice and/or your preJiminarYrulin~ on whether our Share Devository Center iSDCi qualifies as an eli~ible foreil'll custodian under paragraph c(2liiii' of rule 17f-5 of the

Investment Company Act of 1940. Our SDC is a department of the stock ExchaH~e of Thailand (SET1. i..hich is the only central

system handinl securities and book-entry seUlement of transactions in Thailand.

We submit the information presented below for your consideration:
The stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is the only stock exchange in Thailand handlin~ trades through a fully 2/. . .

§ 1lll& ~~(Q~fu ii~~~~ (Q~ ~rm

automatic matching computerized system called "ASSET". The

software that supports the trading system "ASSET" was

developed by the Midwest Stock Exchange (MSE) in Chica~o.

This system provides for on-line order entry by brokers and

the automatic matching of orders. Currently. settlement of trade is done at our SDC by book entry and completed by Tl 3.

The SDC is presently in the process of transforming the

system to a scripless one by dematerialization.
The specific functions of the SDC are:

1. to act as the central depository for all

listed or authorized securities on the SET.

2. to maintain records and recovery of securities

files in the scripless system. and

3. to operate a book entry securities settlement

and transfer serv i ce with respect to securi ties accounts. The operation of the SET and that of the SDC are

subject to the overall supervision of the Thai Securities and

Exchan~e Commission (Thai SECI. The Thai SEC is empowered by the

Securities and Exchange Act, 1992 to regulate the activities

in the securities industry including the establishment and

operations of the SET and the activities of all intermediaries

in the Thai market. The Thai SEC is empowered to examine

the books of the SET and intermediaries as well as to revie~

the rules of the SET. Althou~h the determination. alteration

and modification of certain regulations must be approved by

3/. . .

. ~ íl~ ~~(I&fu ii~&~& (I~ ~ the SEC. in practice, all major rules and regulations of the SET are made in close consultations with the Thai SEC. As the SDC is the only entity which operates the central system for handl ing securities and the book-entry settlement of trade transacted throu~h the SET, we believe that the SDC qualifies as an "eli~ible foreign custodian" under paragrapgh (c)(2)(iii) of Rule 17f-5 of your Investment Company Act. 1940. We would be grateful if you could advise us if our understandin~ is correct and/or if you would provide any preliminary ruling on this matter. We also enclose for your references copies of our

publication on " The stock Market in Thailand 1992 " and" Share Depository Center (SDCI ". Should yOU require further information.

please do not hesitate to contact us.

y~ur;t;.c:::;
ßii L.

(Seri Chintanaseri)

President
Enc. 1. Share Depository Center

2. The Stock Market In Thailand 1992

cc. Mr. Ekamol Kiriwat

Secretary General

Securities and Exchan,e Commission

,'.
SHA DEPOSITORY CENTR

(SDC)
The Stock Exchange of Thiland

(SET) ,

Septemer 1992

~ 1l~ ~ß(Q~Th ~~&ll~~~ (Qil1lIIIIff~

' SINTHON BUILDING 2nd FLOOR '32 WIRELESS ROAD, BANGKOK 10330 METROPOLIS

"- TEL. 254040-3, 2540960.9 CABLE ADO, SECEXHAI, FAX: (882) 2543040

C) SHAR DEPSITORY CE (SO

Regu~üx Informtion
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) was established in May ';74 with the enactment of the Securities Exchange of Tha!land Act (SET Act) S.E. 2517. However, the SET Act was revoked by the Securities and Exchange Act (SEA) in May , ¡¡2. Accrding to the SEA the SET is a non-profit j,ristic organization under the supervision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEe). The Development of the Share Depoitry Center (SOC)

The SOC. one division of the SET. was introduced in January of '¡S8 as the only share depository center in Thailand. In accrda.ice with the SEA the SOC implemented its first phase of scripless system on June , 5, '992. Since then, the SET has acted as i nomiee for beneficial owner. . The Shae Depoit Center's Pacipats Clårng Parcipants Brkers 40

Non-ceang Participants
'.' Sub-broers 12
CUodan 13

The Shae Depoit Centers Accnts

Loca accunt : For securities which are trded on main board..

Foreign accunt : For securities which are traded on foreign board..

NOles: -Mai bod : For regula tri:~ -Foreign bod : For foe¡gneii 10 tróe on lt foign owr&hp hi. reactd II ceilng Jill The Share Depoit Center's Functons
I. Depsi
Parficlpanls may bring the share ce:'Uicates 10 dsposn in the SDe and specify on the deposit slips which accunts they are for. The SDC will then issue receipts to the participants. The certficales wlli then be sant to the S~are Regis1rar De~ë.rt.rJ'en~ so they can be traisferred to the SOC. Rna/y. the share csrti:jca~e wil be cacelled and sent back to the compal'Y that issued them. As ¡ result all certifiCeles are stored electronicaly and no phì'sica securities are issued which is a scripless sysfem.
2. Withdrawal
Participants may withdraw the share certificates from the SDe only if the investors need to have the certifcates. The SDe wll ask the Shara RegIstrar Departent to isue a new certlficate as requested Thi pross takes approximately one month.

3. Accont Traer Using On-Une Unk

There ar two ways In which parcipants ca exece an accunt trsfer using an on-rine link. . . '. ~-. . .. .'

They ca eiter do It by using a computer termal or contactng the SOO by bringing the necssar

docuents.
When trasferrng from a loc to a foreign accunt th trasferee acunt must be a foreign

perSonal accunt In addion th traer tracton wID be queued at th Sh Registra Oeent to wa for th av1able Foreign Room. Th SDC In coordnation wi th Share Registra Departent wil help to confirm the trasactiort

~ 1l~ CI~fu m%&Th (Qfi ~dl
\2
A. Net Clearing

Stoêks traded on the SET are cleared by the SDC In the moming after each trading day. The SDC empoys munilatera netting system.
5. Settlement

The SDC settles traded s¡:unties by using ~ook entry system. It debits or credits the securities accunt in accrdance with the net clearing report The accunt of buyer wil be positive, and vice versa . for that of seller.

6. Inquiry

Paricipant ca Inquire accun: ba!êJce, trasaction status, and net clearing position.

1. Beneficial Ower's Righ
   The SDC ca process all participants' bsneficial owners rights in each accunt balance. In order for the SDC to exeC'J1e this process correctly, participants must submit the name of accunt owners by diskette. The information contained in diskettes is detailed infomiation concerning the names of the individua investors and the number of shares they hold. Ater the SOO processes the Information, the disk is forwarded to the Shar reistra offce At this point the registra reisters the Individual claims to shareownership and th varous nghts that accmpany them. The SOO an th Share Registra wUI then forward shareownership informtion to the pertnent companies so th th companies ca pay divdends or grat nghts to shareholders u specied.

.

,
Group of Thirt Recmmendations and the Share Depoit Center of ti SET

RECOA no i: By, ¡gO, all comparisons of trades between direct market partc!pants (L e., brokers broker/dealers and o!ner exchange members) should be accmpHsned by T +1.

Following the introduction of the computeïied trading system in May 1; ¡'. all comparisons of

trades have been accmplished by T.

RECOAll 2: Indirect mar'i(et participants (such as instIutional investors or any trading C'unterparties which are nct broker/dealsrs) shoü!~ by , ~g2, be membeis of Trade ccmparisoil system 't.¡ch achieves positve affinraticn of trade detai!s. At the SET, indirçct irar~et partic:;¡itits ars not yet allowed to be members of trade comparison syst~lT.. RECOMMENDATI J: Each cou:¡tri sh:u:d have ë.: e;fe~ive and fully ciev;:cped CEntra seC'Jritiss dep:¡s~ory. Dr~aniied and ma:aged to en:ourage trie broadest possible Industry part¡c1;Ja,it (directly and indi:-:ty), in place by , ;92. The Share Depository Center (SDC) is ttie centra secunties depository. RECOA no A: Each country shculd st~dy its maret volumes and participation to dstennine whether a trade nettng system would be beneficial in tenns of reducing risk and promotig effCiency. If a ner"ing system would be appropriate. tt should be L-nplemented by 1 ¡i;2.

, A, multlatera netUng system ha ben in place since 1 ¡e2.

'RECOAll,: Oefivel) versus payment (DVP) should, be employed as the method for settng ai¡ securities tra~actons. A OVP system should be In place by , ¡¡2. Oerivery versus payment (OVP) was employed by the SET in 1875. RECOA l1 I: . Payments associated wi th settement of securiies trsactons and the sei'iân 01 securiies portf.oUos should be made consIstent acrss al instruments ard markets by adopting the "sae áaf funds coventicn.

The SET has not implemented this recommendation yet

.éj 1l~ (Q&ll iilZ& (Qfi ~ffdl

RECOA no 1: A "Rollng Settemenr syem should be adopted by all markets. Final settlement should ocr on T +3 by , ¡92. As an interim targe~ fina settlement should ocr on T +5 by 1 ¡DO at the lates~ save only whêre it hinders the achievement of T +3 by , ;92 Since, 975, the SET has employed a "Rollng Settlemenr system and final settlement is achieved on T +3. RECOA T1 &: Securities lending and borrowing should be encouraged as a method of expditing the settement of securities transactions. Existing regulatory and taxation barrers that Inhibn the practice of lending securities should be removed by '990. This recommendation is not followed by the SET. RECOATI ,: Each country should adopt the standard for securities messages developed by the Intemational Organization for Standardization (ISO standard 7775). In particular, countries should adopt the ISIN numb~ring system for securities issues as defined in the ISO Standard 6160, at least for cross border trasactions. These standards should be universally applied by 1 ;D2. . The SET has not as yet adopted the s1andard for securities numbering system.

~-
Futre Plans

The SET plans to develop th clearing and settlement systm In the followings:
1. Accrding to th SEA the SOO plan to ccmplete its final phase of dematenafizion and the
SOO wil act as a nomee for the beneficial owner by the end of 1 ;;2. 2- The SET pls to accpt indirect mar1et participants ~ Its members oi the trade coparis:m system by the end of 1;;2
3. In accrda wroh th SEA to further improve the efficiency of the clearace and s6ttiement
system, the SET plans to spin off in ';;3 its departments responsible for clearing and settlement SOC,

corpra~e actions and share registration. These functio:is wil be ma"lagad by a company to be established as a sJbsidiary of the SET.

4. Tne SET plans to utilize the ISIN numbering system in , ;93.
5. The SET pians 10 make sae cly fund a~/aJi~le in 1 ¡u.

~. The SET p:as to allew corporate d;oenIure bonès to be deposited at ~he SOO in , ;513.

Fo mora Inform plaa co
Iner Relation Dlv

Rear an Delopment Depant

Th S:oc Exc.ge ot Th
Th Bullding On B. li Fl

.. So AUI WI".. Rocl

'. a.. Ba ,0uO, Th
Tel (112) 2511'00-8

Fa: (112) 2517110. 2517120

'.

~ ,-.--","", ".~..~: .:'-:. ~:. ',. i, 'tN/TED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ~l~;'. ""j , .l

WASHINGTON, DC 20549
.." ff'~ .
DIVISION OF

II.' ...ENT MANAGEMENT

February 19, 1993

Dr. Chaipat Sahasakul

Senior Vice President
The Stock Exchange of Thailand

Sint~cn Euilding, 2nd Floor

132 Wireless Rd.

Bangkok 10330 Metropolis

Thailand
Dear Dr. Sahasakul:

It was a pleasure s?eaking with you, Mrs. Nongram, and Mrs. Kongkeaw on February 11 about the stock Exchange of Thailand i s request for no-action under Section 17 (f) of the Investment

Company Act of 1940 and Rule 17f-s thereunder. lJ Thank you for

taking the time to answer our questions.

As we discussed in our telephone conversation, we would like

you to submit a letter supplementing the information provided in

your letter of October 16. In your letter, please provide us

with thè following information.

1. Stock Exchanae of Thailand

Your letter should discuss the role of the stock Exchange of Thailand ("SET") in Thailand i s capital market. This discussion lJ Section i 7 (f) of the 1940 Act provides that every registered

management investment company shall maintain its securities

and similar investments in the custody of (1) a bank meeting

certain requirements, (2) a member of a national securities

exchange, (3) the company itself, in accordance with

Commission rules, or (4) a system for the central handling

of securities pursuant to which all securities of any

particular class or series of any issuer deposi ted within

the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or

pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of

such securities, in accordance with Commission rules. Rule

17f-5 provides an exemption from Section 17(f) permitting a

registered management investment company to deposit foreign

securities in the custody of an "eligible foreign custodian." Rule 17f-5 (c) (2) (iii) defines the term "eligible foreign custodian" to include "a securities

deposi tory or clearing Agency, incorporated or organized

under the laws of a country other than the United States,

which operates the central system for handl ing of securities

or equivalent book-entries in that country."

should include a description of the types of securities traded on

SET and the percentage of each type of security that is traded on

SET. Please confirm that there is presently no other exchange or

over-the-counter market in Thailand. In addition, please discuss

the role of the banks in Thailand, including the Bank of Thailand, in trading debt securities.
2. Share Depository Center

Your letter also should describe the activities of the Share

Deposi tory Center ("SDC"). This disc~ssior. should include a

description of the types of securities that may be handled,

currently and in the future, through the SDC book-entry system

and the percentage of each type security that currently is, and

in the future will be, traded using SDC's book-entry system.

Please confirm that there is no other central book-entry system

for handling securities in Thailand. Please also confirm that

all securities trades conducted outside SDC' s book-~ntry system,

regardless of which type of security, require physical delivery

of securities certificates. Further, please give us your opinion

as to whether SDC is a "clearing agency" within the meaning of

Rule 17f-s(c) (2) (iii). iJ

3. Government Regulation of SDC

Finally, your letter should discuss the nature and extent of

the Thailand government's oversight of SDC' s regulations and

describe how this oversight will change, if at all, when SET

spins off SDC as a separate company. Further, please describe

any system safeguards to ensure that holders of securities in the

system do not suffer loss and state whether the government may

intervene if there is a problem with the system. Please discuss

what would happen if a participant in the system were unable to

iJ As we noted in our recent letter to Hong Kong Securities

Clearing Co. Ltd. (pub. avail. Sept. 8, 1992), although Rule

17f-5 does not define the terms "securities depository or clearing agency," Section 3 (a) (23) (A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 defines clearing agency generally as an

intermediary that makes payments or deliveries in connection

with transactions in securities. The term includes any

entity, such as a securities depository, that (1) acts as a

custodian of securities in connection with a system for the

central handling of securities whereby all securities of a

particular class or series of an issuer deposited wi thin the

system are treated as fungible and may be transferred,

loaned, or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical

delivery of securities certificates, or (2) otherwise

permits or facilitates the settlement of securities

transactions without physical delivery of securities certificates.

meet its obligations or were to violate the regulations, and

whether SDC is independently audited.

Please respond in a letter requesting no-action under

Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder. We ask

that you discuss, in addition to the specific matters addressed

above, any relevant facts contained in SET l S Annual Report or the

SDC brochure. Please contact me at (202) 272-2072 (telephone) or

(202) 504-2395 (Fax) if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, -. .' I -- J t .":" / :' ' l-..' . ~- '._-- i' --. "-ø ..-:. Richard F. Jackson

Attorney
Office of Chief Counsel

H~, -MY-1993 19=55 R&D DET. ll SE 66 25711Ø P.Ø1 ~ il~ ~ß(Ill & (Qfi ~

SINTHON BUILDING 2nd FLOOR 132 WIRELESS ROAD, BANGKOK 1033 METROPOLIS \2 TeL 25040.3, 259 CABLE ADD. SECEXI, FAX: (66 250 SE'l. 1'l1Z /1993

May 10, 1993

Mr. Richard F. Jackson

Attorney
Office of Chief Counsel

Uni tad St.at...

Secuit.ies and Exchange Commission

Washinqton D.C. 20549

V.S.A.
Fax: (202) 504-2395

Dear Kr. Jackson:

Thank you very much for your fax of February 19, 1993,

requesting a letter supplementing the infQ~ation provided in our

letter of October 16, 1992, on the qualification of Share

Depository Cent.er ot the St.ock Exchange of Thailand as an

eligible foreign custodian. We also would like t.o t.ake t.his opportunity to apoloqizefor our late reply. We are pleased to enclose a copy of a paper regarding

the reqested information on the Stock Exchange of Thailand,

Share Depository Center (SDC), and Government Regulation of SOC.

The enclosed paper has ci t.ed the following publications of ~e SET:

1. Regulation of the stock Exchange of Thailand

Ra: Rules, Conditions and Procedures governing deposit,

wi thdrawal, transfer of securities and offsetting the

account for securities transfer in the stock Exchange of

Thailand B.E. 2535,

2. the Securities and Exchange Act B. E. 2535,

3. the Stock Market in Thailand 1992 and

4. the Share Depository center.

~ ./
.....
§ 1I& ~~(I&fu ii~&Th~& (Ia ~~
.~.
,et
. The i tems ~~~nd 2 had been sent to you together with my -rl 1 letter dated February 16, 1993. In addition, the items 3 and 4

, had been sent to Ms. Marianne K. Smythe, Director, Division of Investment Management, United states Securities and Exchange Commission, with the letter dated October 16, 1992 from Mr. Seri Chintanaseri, our president. Should you need further clarification, please advice

us. Thank you for your assistance and we look forward to your

approval that the SDC of the Stock Exchange of Thailand qualifies

as an "eligible foreign custodian" under Section 17 (f) of the

Investment Company Act, 1940 and Rule 17f-5.

Sincerely yours,

• • ~~'~,~-~-ù_J", _' .~.
    I ~ - -:) . ,,- ,
    I Dr. Chaipat Sahasakul
    Senior Vice President
    ¡ i
    CC: SET

Mr. Seri Chintanaseri, President

Ms. Nongram Vongvanich, Senior Vice President

Ms. Kongkeaw Piamduaytham,

Vice President, Securities Depository Department,

Dr. Chongrak Rarueysong,

Vice President, Research & Development Department.

1~-MY-1993 19:57 R& DET. ll SET 662 257110 P.Ø3 %. Stock SxchaDge of Thailand

1. The capital ~arket in Thailand, as in most other

developing countries, arose mainly in response to the

requirements of the fledgling modern economy l c efforts towards

industrialization. In conjunoLion to those efforts, Thailand has

implemented the National Economic' and Social Development plan as

a guideline to develop its economy for more than 30 years. It

was not until the Second Plan (1967-i911) that the government

broadly established the goal ot forming an orderly secuities

market with the appropriate facilities and procedures for

securities trading in order ~o encourage oapital mobilization to

finance economic growth.

The long awai ted legislation which established the new

Securities Exchange of Thailand (SET) was enacted in May 1974. On April 30, 1975, the SET started its first day of trading and

the government has since then continued to support the SET.

On January i, 1991¡ its official name was ~hanged to "the Stock

Exchange of Thai land" .
On March 16, 1992, the SET Act was revoked by the Securities

and Exchange Act. This bill provides for more transparent,

eff~cient, and effective enforcement and supervision of the

securities business. Through this, the protection of investors

will moreover be strengthened. However, the SET is still the

only stock exchange with the following obj ect! ves:
i.i) Providing the service of being a center for the trading

of listed securities as well as providinq the system and method

for the trading of securities in such center;

1.2) undertaking any business relating to the Securities

Exchanqe, which are the rendering of services relating to listed

securities by acting as a clearing house, securities depository

center, securities registrar, the rendering of services on

securities data or similar Dusiness;

1A-MAY-1993 19:57 R&D DET. TH SET 66 2567110 P.Ø4

1.3) Undertaking any business other than (1) and (2) with

'the approval of the SEC.

With reqard to the int~rnationalization of .the SET, it has been approved by the Japanese ånd British authorities to be an

authorized market. This allows Japanese and British

insti tutional investors to invest in the SET without any

restrictions imposed by investor countries. The SET is also

a member of the Federation Internationale des Bourses de Valeures

(FIBV), an association of high-quality stock markets, the

International Society of Securities Administrators (ISSA), the

International Organization of Securities Commissions (lOSeO), and

the East Asian and Oceanian stock Exchanqe Federatio~ (EAOSEF).

The SET utilizes a fully computerized trading system to

provide faster services with maximum efficiency and ~airness.

The Sha,re'.oepository Center (SD~), a division of the SET, as well

as the net clearing system has been implemented to facilitate

clearing and settlement within T+3 days.

The SET has also installed the stock watch and effective

surveillance system. The accounting system of the quoted

companies must meet the standards to be in line with standards

of either the International Accounting Standards (rAS) or the

American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA). . . Moreover, the SET has developed the information system to

disseminate widely to the brokers throu9h computer on-line.

2. To keep pace with' the 9rowt of tradinq volume and

a dynamic financial world, the SET has been promoting bonds,

convertible debentures, uni t trusts and warrants. The listing . on the SET also spreads over many sectors which reflects the

structure of Thai economy and its sectoral qrowt. The SET

listed common stocks, preferred stocks, unit truats, convertible

debentures, debentures, and warTants.

1~-MAY-1993 19: 58 R& DEPT. TI- SE 662 25711e p.e5 In term of annual trading and market turnover, as of

December 1992, the major securities which were actively traded in

the SET were common stocks as shown in the following table:

~e of Securities MarJeet. 'Irno.Yer (US$million) Trading Value (l) COMon Stocks Unit Trusts Debentures Warrants Preferreci Stocks Convertible Debentures 72,829.11 331.92 , 4.!53 121.53 1.53 0.20 99.37 0.45 0.01 0.17 0.00. 0.00
3. The Securities and Exchan;e Act, enacted by the Thai

government on March 16, 1992 and became effective on May 16,

1992, recognizes the SET as the exchange. It also allows the

setting up of the OTC market in Thailand. At present, the SET is

the only exchange in Thailand. There is no other exchange or

over-the-counter market in Thailand yet.
4. Regarding the role of commercial banks in trading debt

securities, they form an informal group which is not recognized

by any organization yet. Wh~n they trade any debt instruments, . they call each other by phone. Then, they ask for bids and

offers like a typical dealer or a market maker. In case that any

investors would like to buy or sell the government bonds or

corporate bonds with any commercial bank, they can do directly

with commarcial banks. Then, the commercial banks will trade

among themselves. In general, these comercial banks do not

impose any commission fees. However, they can make any profit

from the spreads. All these activities are outside the SET.

In addition, the Bank of Thailand, which is the central bank of

Thailand, per~orms an underwiter function for the 90ver~ent

bonds. Al though there are many series of government bonds, only

some specific series of government bonds that the investors can

1Ø-MAY-1993 19: 58 R&D DEPT. Tl- SET 662 2567110 P.06 trade with the Bank' of Thailand. However, the investors can

still trade qovernment bonds with commercial banks.

For further details concerning the stock Exchange of

Thailand, please refer to the "stock Market in Thailand 1992"

publication.
II. Share Ðepos! tory Center

5. The SDC was established in April 1988 and is the only

share depository center in Thailand. At present, the SDC is

a division of the SET. Its principal functions are, firstly, to

clear and settle securities traded by employing a "book entry"

system. Under this system, stocks are transferred by crediting and debiting accounts without having to physically deliver share

certif~cates. Secondly, the SDC acts as a central $ecurities

depository in Thailand. At present, the SDC handles only common

stocks. In the near future, the SDC may expand its services to

other types of securities.
6. The SDC' s participants are classified as follows:

6.1) Clearing Participants (Direct Market Partici~ants)

comprise the SET's member brokerage fi~s which can use SDC' s

clearinq & settlement and depository service.

6.2) Non-clearing participants (Indirect Market

Participants) comprise sub.brokers, custodian banks, and other

persons designated by the SET which can do only depositing with

the SOC.

7. Besides being share depository center, the SOC is, in

our opinion, also a "clearing agency" within the meaning of

Rule 17 f - 5 (c) (2) (iii) of the Investment c~~pany Aot of 1940.

However, the SDC provides its clearing and settlement services

only to 40 member companies of the SE'. Indirect market

10-MAY-1993 19: 59 R& DEPT. THE SE 662 25671113 P.ø7 participants' such as brokerage firms, that are not the SET's

members, and custodian banks are not allowed to access to the

clearing and settlement services. In addition, all securities

trades conducted outside SDC t 5 book-entry system requires

physical delivery of oertificates. For example, presently, the

SDO has not accepted the debt instruments in its clearinq service

yet. Therefore, if the inve~tors are willing to trade the debt

instruments on the SET, they have to ~hysically deliver the

certificates.
For more information regarding the Share Depository Center, . please refer t.o the "Share Depository Centertl and the "Requlation

ot the Stock Exohange of Thailand Re: Rules, Conditions and

Procedures governing deposit, wit.hdrawal, transfer of securities

and offsetting the account for seourities transfer in the stock

Exchange of 'lailand II documents.

III. ~overnment Regulation of aDO

and Exchange Commission (Thai SEe) and s. Sinoe the SET is under the supervision of the Securities . .

'the SDC is a division of

the SET, therefore, under Section 224 of our securities and

Exchange Act B.E. 2535 (SEA), no license to operate the SOC is

required and the' SDC is also under supervision of the Thai SEC.

In the future, when the SET spins the SÇO off as a separate

company with at least 7~ percent of the outstanding shares held

by the SET, this new company is still considered as part of the

SET, and, therefore, no license is required and the SDO is still

un~er the supervision of the Thai SEC. As a result, the Board of

Governors of the, SET, wi th the approval of the SEe, shall have

the power to ~pecify the rules, conditions and procedures for

such operation (see Section 224' of the SEA). Moreover, a oompetent officer appointed in ao~ordance with the SEA shall have

the power to enter into the place of SDC durinq the business

hour~ in order to examine the operations including documents and

information concerninq such institution as prescribed on seotion

, 264 (1) of the SEA.

10-MAY-1993 20: 00 R&D DET. TI SE 662 257110 P.Ø8

g. Risks rslated to the operation of the SDC are risks in

the clearing and settlement process and risks in technical

break-down .
The SDC ~plement~ system safeguards to manag_ those risks

as follows.
9.1) As a clearing agency, if any member company fails to

settle securities or fails to maKe payments, the SET will clear

and settle such securities or payments for that me~er company.

In this case, the SET will recover those pre-settled securities

or . payments plus other related costs from the concerne~. member

co.mpany.
Members who fail to deliver securities or make payments will

. .

face serious penalties as follows.
In physical settlement, any member who fails t? deliver

securities at the SET is subject. to a fine ranging from 0.5l to

7.5% of the transaction value, depending on the numer of working

days, but the total f~ne will not exceed 200,000 Baht (US$8,000).

In addition, the member must pay for or deliver the securities in

default together with compensation to the counterparty memer at

a rate equal to the maximum interest rate allowed by law. The

the shares due' are registered for dividends and/or' new capital

SET may allow delayed delivery upon written confirmation only if . .

issues.
In the SDC system, any members who fail to deposi t the

relQv~nt securities on the specific date at the SDC are subject

to a fine at the same rate. In addition, the member will be

fined 500 Baht (US$20) per day from the first workinq day

followinq the day of the default. After a certain time, if the

member still fails to deposit the securities, the SDC will buy in

the securities and claim the payment from the member.

10-MAY-1993 æ:øø R& DET. ll SE ~'" 2567110 P. 09 On the payment sid., if ~he. member's cheque is not honored,

~at member is subject to a tine twice of the amount of the

cheque. If that member still does not pay for ~e securities and

the fine, the SET will suspend the broker's tradinq privileges.

As a measure o~ last resort, the SET may withdraw the

license of that ~embr and pursue criminal proceedings. As the

SET is the sole unif~ed market for .tock exchange in Thailand and

its ..at is one of the most expensive ones in the world (tho last

bid was around US$12. 5 million), it expects all member firms to

comply with its requlations.

At present the SET is a guarantor for all paym~nts and

securities settlements. In the event of spinning off the SDC,

a clearing fund or si~ilar fund wiii be set up to manage these

risks.
~. 2) ,Since the see employs dematerialization system which solely relies on computer, the risks that may occur on .the

custody services are technical failures or other disaster risks.

The soe monitors these risks by

(1) Data security - each user must have a User iO and.

a User Password.

(2) System Disaster - the see has a offsite backup which is

tested every. quarter. In terms of system sgftware, the SDC has daily,

weekly and monthly cycle time for data

backup which are kept both on 5i~e and

offsite.
Should there be a problem with the system safeguards already

menLioned, it is believed that the 90ver~ent would inLervene in

order that its objective regarding capital market development

would be smoothly achieved.

10-MAY-1993 20:01 R& DEPT. THE SE 662 257110 P.10

. 10. Despite the SDC 1s audited by the SET's internal

audi tor, participants are required to reooncile their own

securities holding balance with the SDC daily throuqh computer

on-line and the, SDC also reconciles its demater1alized securities . with issuers monthly. Moreover, the Thai SEC is empowered to

examine SOCIa books and operation.

For additional details concerning the government re~lation

ot the SOC, please reter to chapters 7, 10, and 11 of the

"Seourities and Exchanqe Act B.E. 2535" document.

~-~~~-~--~~---~-~-~-~-~~~
MF2 -HD : OSSEC

May 10, 93

TOTAL P. 10