Kingdom of Cambodia

Nation – Religion – King

 

The National Bank of Cambodia

00-05/PrK

PRAKAS on

 

LICENSING OF RURAL CREDIT

SPECIALIZED BANKS

______________

 

The Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia

 

-          With reference to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia;

-          With reference to the Kram NS/RKM/0196/27 of January 26, 1996 promulgating the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the National Bank of Cambodia;

-          With reference to the Kram NS/RKM/1199/13 of November 18, 1999 promulgating the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions;

-          With reference to the Kret CS/RKT/0398/85 of March 10, 1998 on the appointment of His Excellency Chea Chanto as Governor General of the National Bank of Cambodia;

 

Pursuant to the request of the Banking Supervision Department of the National Bank of Cambodia

 

Decides as follows:

 

Chapter I: General Provisions

 

Article 1:

Specialized banks as defined in Chapter I of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions and in accordance with Article 14 of this law must obtain a license from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) before starting business.

 

Article 2:

A licensed rural credit specialized bank shall only carry out banking operations which are specified by the terms of the decision granting the license.

 

Article 3:

An applicant for a specialized bank's license shall take one of the legal forms provided for in Chapter III of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions.

 

Article 4 :

A specialized bank shall have a minimum registered capital of KHR 10 billion.

 

Chapter II: Procedure for Submitting a License Application

 

Article 5:

The application for a license shall be drawn up by a duly authorized person (manager or person expressly empowered to such effect) and shall indicate the following:

 

(a)     Name or business name of the institution

(b)     Registered address of the headquarters

(c)     Legal form and the Articles of Association or other founding instrument

(d)     Type of securities representing the capital, and connection between the holding of such securities and the exercise of voting rights

(e)     Amount of authorized and paid‑in equity capital

(f)       Distribution of shares and voting rights, and possible agreements between shareholders acting in concert with a view to directing the policy of the institution

(g)     Capital contributors which will hold 5 percent or more of the voting rights must provide the information listed in article 6 below

(h)     Identity of at least two persons responsible for the effective direction of the specialized bank's business. These designated managers must fill in the curriculum vitae and questionnaire appended in Annex II and furnish a copy of their police records.

(i)       Identity of the members of the decision‑making body. This information must be supplemented by a curriculum vitae and a statement certifying that none of the individuals concerned is subject to the prohibitions set forth in Article 18 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions; the majority of the members should have at least three years of credit experience.

(j)       If the legal entity for which the application is made has already been formed, provide a description of its business and certified copies of its audited balance sheets for operations in any of the previous three years.

(k)     Description of the planned activity over the next three years:

 

-          Nature and volume of the different types of lending liable to appear on the balance sheet, and other possible services offered to customers or members (for loans: nature, form, purpose, main terms and conditions, annual volume, and amount outstanding),

-          Type of clients that the institution intends to seek,

-          Nature of planned financial resources: own funds, subsidies, subordinated debt, deposits, borrowings etc... As appropriate, specify the nature and ownership of these resources in the event of any ambiguity (subordinated debt for example),

-          Likely number of employees over the next three years and corresponding payroll, broken down by category of staff,

-          Location of existing branches or planned branches,

-          Planned organization and resources, especially as regards accounting procedures and computer system,           

-          Balance sheet and profit and loss account forecasts for the next three accounting periods. Forecast level of main prudential ratios (as defined by the NBC) at the end of the next three accounting periods.

 

(l)       Audit procedures:

 

-          Planned internal audit organization for application of provisions of Article 43 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions,

-          Identity of proposed external auditors, nature of assignments given to external auditors.

 

Article 6:

Capital contributors holding 5 percent or more of the capital or voting rights of the institution must provide the following information:

 

(a)      Identity of the capital contributor. In the case of a legal entity, indicate the business name, legal form, and address of the headquarters and furnish the Articles of Association. In the case of an individual, state his or her full name, date and place of birth, nationality and domicile. Indicate whether this person is to be appointed one of the managers of the institution. State whether the capital contributor is to be represented on the institution's board of directors; if so, ensure that this representative is not subject to the prohibitions set forth in Article 18 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions.

(b)      Indicate the amount and percentage of the proposed participation and its equivalent in voting rights. Describe in detail the legal and financial arrangements for the acquisition of the securities. State whether the transaction is subject to particular formalities in respect of regulations such as those applicable to foreign direct investment in Cambodia and whether such formalities have been complied with.

(c)      Describe the activities of the capital contributor. If the capital contributor is part of a group, provide a description of the main entities of said group together with an organization chart. Indicate whether the capital contributor has significant equity holding in other credit institutions. Indicate whether the group to which the capital contributor itself belongs has significant equity holdings in credit institutions. If so, list such interests.

(d)      State whether the capital contributor and the companies possibly associated with it carry on a financial activity. If so, indicate the regulations and the authorities to which they are subject in this respect.

(e)      Indicate the internal and external audit procedures of the capital contributor.

(f)       Indicate whether, over the preceding ten years the capital contributor has been the subject of an investigation or of a professional, administrative, or judicial proceeding of a material nature.

(g)      State the capital contributor's objectives for the acquisition of an equity holding in the institution. Give all relevant information.

(h)      Indicate whether there is significant business between the capital contributor and the institution and how these relations are likely to develop in the future.

(i)       Indicate the main banking relations of the capital contributor in Cambodia and how long these relations have existed.

 

Article 7:

A capital contributor which will directly or indirectly hold at least 20 percent of the capital or the voting rights shall be considered as an influential shareholder in accordance with the provisions of Article 26 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions. Influential shareholders might be enjoined by the National Bank of Cambodia to increase the net worth of the institution under the conditions described in Article 27 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions. For that purpose, a letter in accordance with the model set forth in annex I must be sent to the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia.

 

Such a provision will only be removed once a deposit insurance scheme (or other customer deposit guarantee) is set up in Cambodia.

 

Moreover, in accordance with the provisions of article 40 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions, the National Bank of Cambodia will be able to grant a written waiver from the provisions of Article 7 at the time of the license approval.

 

Chapter III: License Approval and Related Fee

 

Article 8:

The National Bank of Cambodia shall provide written notification of its decision within 3 months from the receipt of application. Where appropriate, the approval shall set out the specific conditions laid down by the National Bank of Cambodia for its entry into force and the timetable for the project. If the project has not been completed upon expiry of the deadline and if no extension has been requested, the approval becomes void.

 

Article 9:

A specialized bank's License is valid for a period of 3 years, from the approval date. Said license may be renewed only if all possible infractions of relevant laws and regulations have been remedied. An application for renewal of a license shall be submitted to the National Bank of Cambodia at least two months prior to the expiration of the existing license. In the event this deadline is not met, a fine of KHR 100,000 per day of delay up to the submission date shall be imposed.

 

Article 10:

The institutions shall pay a fee of KHR 500,000 upon submission of the application for a license.

 

Article 11:

The annual license fee shall be paid before January 15 as follows:

 

-  KHR 10 million for the bank headquarters.

-  KHR 8 million for each branch of a bank.

 

For institutions established during year, the license fee shall be calculated on a pro rata basis for the remaining period to the year's end. In the event of late payment of license fee, the institutions concerned shall be fined by paying interest on the overdue payment at the existing refinancing interest rate for a period up to 30 days. If they are not in order after this period, their license shall be revoked.

 

Chapter IV: Prudential Rules

 

Article 12:

Applicants with no operating history must pay up 100 percent of registered capital into an account open with the NBC prior to commencement of operations.

 

Article 13:

Each licensed specialized bank shall maintain an amount, bearing no interest, equal to 5 percent of its registered capital in a permanent account with the NBC.

 

The NBC will only reimburse the capital deposit to a licensed specialized bank if it is voluntarily liquidated and has no deposit liabilities.

 

Article 14:

A licensed specialized bank shall deposit S percent of its deposits into its account maintained with the National Bank of Cambodia. This reserve requirement shall be maintained under the conditions set forth in Regulation on reserve requirement.

 

Article 15:

A licensed specialized bank shall observe all the regulatory requirements to which banks are subject, particularly the reporting requirements.

 

Chapter V: Other Provisions

 

Article 16:

Notifications relating to acquisitions or disposals of shareholdings in the context of Article 23 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions must include a description of the reasons for the transaction and the objectives pursued.

Notification documents should also include information, as described in Article 6 above on the capital contributors concerned.

In addition, the specialized bank concerned shall pay a fee of 1 percent of share capital for such a change in shareholdings.

 

Article 17:

Authorized applications relating to acquisitions or disposals of shareholdings in the context of Article 24 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions must include a description of the reasons for the transaction and the objectives pursued.

 

Application documents should also include information, as described in Article 6 above, on the capital contributors concerned. Contributors seeking to hold directly or indirectly at least 20 percent of the share capital or voting rights may be required by the NBC to sign a letter in accordance with the model given in Annex I.

 

In addition, the specialized bank concerned shall pay a fee of 1 percent of share capital for such a change in shareholdings.

 

Article 18:

In the event of the appointment of new managers (namely the two persons responsible for the effective direction of the specialized bank's business) following information must be furnished to the National Bank of Cambodia:

 

        A document providing proof of such appointment (board meeting minutes for example);

          Curriculum vitae and questionnaire appended in Annex II.

 

All these documents must be furnished at least one month before the person concerned takes up his position.

 

Article 19:

Other changes in the legal or financial status of a specialized bank must be submitted to the National Bank of Cambodia for approval. Application materials should be accompanied by a description of the reasons for the planned operation and, as applicable, by the following information.

 

        Extension or redefinition of activity: the information referred to in paragraph k of Article 5 of this Prakas must be furnished;

        Capital reduction: description of terms and conditions, namely legal and accounting arrangements and indication of the new amount of own funds with possible effects on future business and prudential ratios;

        Change in legal form: draft amendments to the Articles of Association and information concerning management bodies;

  Change in business name: draft amendment to Articles of Association.

 

All these changes must be submitted to the National Bank of Cambodia at least three months before their enforcement.

 

Banks shall pay a fee of KHR 1 million for a change of one page of the Article of Association.

 

Article 20:

This Prakas shall have effect from this signing date.

 

Article 21:

The General Director, the General Secretariat, the General Cashier, the General Inspection, all Departments of the NBC and all specialized banks under the NBC's supervisory authority shall strictly implement this Prakas.

 

 

Phnom Penh January 11, 2000

 

The Governor: CHEA CHANTO

 

 


Annex I

 

 

Model Letter

 

to be sent to the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia by Capital Contributors Who Directly or Indirectly Hold 20 percent or more of the Capital or the Voting Rights of a Specialized Bank.

 

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

In my capacity as (give the status of the signatory), please find herewith the information requested by the National Bank of Cambodia (Prakas No ) with regard to the equity holding that (contributor's name) has taken or intends to take in (name of the specialized bank).

 

I hereby certify that this information is complete and accurate and that, to the best of my knowledge, there are no other material facts of which the National Bank of Cambodia should be informed.

 

I undertake to inform the National Bank of Cambodia immediately of any change which would significantly alter the information provided.

 

I have taken note of the provisions of Article 7 of the Prakas on licensing of specialized banks, pursuant to which the National Bank of Cambodia may, where the situation requires, enjoin the influential shareholders of a specialized bank to provide such a specialized bank with the support it needs.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Annexe II

 

 

CURRICULUM VITAE

And

Questionnaire for individuals who are, or who propose to become,

Managers of a specialized bank

__________

 

 

1. Family name: .......................................................................................................................……………

 

2. Given name(s): .......................................................................................................................……………

 

3. Other name(s) by which you are or have been known:

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

4‑l. Please describe the particular duties and responsibilities attaching to your position.

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

4‑2. Indicate if you are a capital contributor to the applicant and if you intend to carry out, directly or through an intermediary, personal or professional transactions with the applicant.

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

Your private address:

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

6. Your previous private address (es) during the last 5 years:

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

7. Your date (day/month/year) and place of birth (including district, town or city).

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

8. Your nationality and how it was acquired (birth, naturalization, marriage).

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

9. Name(s) and address (es) of your bankers within the last 5 years.

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

10. Your academic degrees and/or professional qualifications and the place and year they were obtained.

 

....................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................………………………………

 

11‑1. Your current occupation and employment and over the past 10 years, including the name and address of the employer in each case, the nature of the business, the position held and relevant dates.

 

.................................................................................................................…………………………………

 

...................................................................................................................………………………………..

 

11‑2. Indicate whether you are or in the past ten years have been a significant shareholder (namely holding directly or indirectly at least 10 percent of the share capital or voting rights) of a company other than the applicant. If so, state the name and activities of such companies and the amount of your shareholding or interest in them.

 

...................................................................................................................………………………………..

 

.......................................................................................................................…………………………….

 

11‑3. Indicate, to the best of your knowledge, which of the companies in which you have held or hold a position of responsibility, or in which you have been or are a significant shareholder, has or might soon have significant business relations with the applicant.

 

......................................................................................................................…………………………….

 

...................................................................................................................………………………………..

 

12. Have you or any entity with which you are associated as a director, shareholder, or manager ever held or applied for a license or to carry on any business activity in any country? If so, if any such application was refused or withdrawn after it was made or if any authorization was revoked, give particulars.

 

.......................................................................................................................…………………………….

 

...................................................................................................................………………………………..

 

13. Have you, or any entity with which you have been involved in the conduct of its affairs, been disciplined, warned as to future conduct, publicly criticized, or the subject of an investigation by any regulatory authority or any professional body? If so, give particulars.

.......................................................................................................................……………………………

           

.......................................................................................................................……………………………

 

14. Have you, in any country, been dismissed from any office or employment by your employer or barred from entry to any professional or occupation? If so, give particulars.

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………

 

15. Have you failed to satisfy any debt adjudged due and payable by you under an order of a court, or have you been declared bankrupt by a court in any country or has a bankruptcy petition ever been served on you? If so, give particulars.

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………

 

16. 1lave you, in connection with the management of any entity been adjudged by a court, in any country, to be legally liable for any fraud, or other misconduct by you toward such an entity or any of its members? If so, give particulars.

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………….

 

.......................................................................................................................…………………………………………………………….

 

17. Are you now, or do you other than in a professional capacity, expect to be, engaged in any litigation in any country? If so, give particulars.

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………….

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………….

 

18. Please supply an audited statement of personal net worth providing a breakdown of your assets and liabilities.

.......................................................................................................................……………………………….

 

.......................................................................................................................…………………………………………………………….

 

19. Indicate the names, addresses, telephone numbers and positions of three individuals of good standing who would be able to provide a reference on your personal and professional integrity. The referees must not be related to you, and should have known you for at least five years.

 

.......................................................................................................................……………………………….

 

.......................................................................................................................…………………………………………………………….

 

20. Is there any additional information, which you consider is relevant for the consideration of your suitability for the position of manager? The omission of material facts may represent the provision of misleading information (see declaration below).

 

N.B. The information provided in response to this questionnaire shall be kept fully confidential by the supervisory authority, the National Bank of Cambodia, except in cases provided for by law.

 

DECLARATION

 

I am aware that it is an offense to knowingly or recklessly provide any false or misleading information in connection with an application for a banking license or a renewal of a banking license.

 

I certify that the information provided in response to the above questions is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that there are no other facts relevant to this application of which the supervisory authority should be aware.

 

I undertake to inform the supervisory authority of any changes material to the application, which arise while the supervisory authority, is considering the application.

 

Name: .................................................................................………………………………

 

Position held: ……………………………………..

 

Signed:    …………………………………………… Date       /      /