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Article
Equity Swaps and Implications in Company Law: An Examination of Singapore Law
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
  • Chao-hung Christopher CHEN, Singapore Management University
Publication Type
Working Paper
Version
submittedVersion
Publication Date
1-2012
Abstract

This article explores issues from the use of equity swaps by corporate stakeholders under Singapore law. The article accepts that non-disclosure of economic interests might have an impact on market efficiency and corporate governance. To address potential problems, Singapore should consider revising the Takeover Code, while it requires further regulatory impact analysis to decide whether amendments to the Securities and Futures Act and the Companies Act are needed. As an alternative, companies can use their articles of association to impose a duty of disclosure before statutory intervention. In addition, the trading of equity swaps by directors raises issues about fiduciary duties. Although companies can probably trade equity swaps that reference their own shares, it is likely the financial assistance rule will be breached if the market reality stands.

Keywords
  • financial derivative,
  • equity swap,
  • company law,
  • fiduciary duty,
  • financial assistance,
  • disclosure,
  • interest in shares,
  • corporate governance
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Additional URL
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1983657
Citation Information
Chao-hung Christopher CHEN. "Equity Swaps and Implications in Company Law: An Examination of Singapore Law" (2012) p. 1 - 78
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christopher_chen/12/