Q&A about the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market

Objectives for the establishment of the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market

  1. What are your objectives for establishing the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market? [Q1]
  2. What merits will the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market provide to bond issuers and investors? [Q2]

Overview, definitions (TOKYO PRO-BOND Market Listing Regulations 1–3, Regulation 25)

  1. What kind of marketable securities can be listed? [Q3]
  2. May one later change the language of disclosure? What are the points to keep in mind here? [Q4]
  3. Regulation 3 of the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market Listing Regulations states that “the legal systems and actual practices that prevail in the home countries of issuers.” Specifically, what does this mean? [Q5]

Listing Application (Regulations 4–8)

  1. Would you explain the relationship between bond issuance and listing? [Q6]
  2. Where and when can a Securities Listing Application Statement be filed? [Q7]
  3. May we appoint a representative to file an application in our place? Furthermore, can we file the application and receive advice in English? [Q8]
  4. What is meant by “Program Information”? What is to be gained by presenting it? What obligations are incurred upon doing so? [Q9]
  5. What is the difference between Program Information and shelf registration documents? [Q10]
  6. You mean that it is possible to use some form other than Form No. 2 to submit Program Information? [Q11]
  7. What is the relationship between Program Information and Specified Securities Information? [Q12]
  8. Must we submit Program Information? [Q13]
  9. Are there any necessary conditions for utilizing Program Information? [Q14]
  10. Do bonds issued using Program Information have to be listed? [Q15]
  11. How is Program Information publicly disclosed? [Q16]
  12. What is Specified Securities Information? [Q17]
  13. May we use a form other than Form No. 5 to submit Specified Securities Information? [Q18]
  14. When the bonds have been guaranteed, is it necessary to also disclose information on the guarantor? [Q19]
  15. Could you tell us about special exemptions concerning Specified Securities Information? [Q20]
  16. How would Specified Securities Information be presented in a case in which Program Information has already been disclosed? [Q21]
  17. What accounting standards will you recognize? [Q22]
  18. Could you tell us how Specified Securities Information is to be disclosed? [Q23]

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Listing eligibility (Regulations 9–12)

  1. Is the Exchange to conduct listing examinations? [Q24]
  2. How broadly are you using the term “credit rating agency” within the Listing Regulations? [Q25]
  3. Would a rating downgrade infringe on delisting standards? [Q26]
  4. Are we correct in our understanding that the level of the rating itself is not an issue; for example, you do not require the rating to be, say, BBB or above? [Q27]
  5. Are there any exemptions from the credit rating requirement? [Q28]
  6. What is a Lead Managing Underwriter List? Is a lead managing underwriter different to a J-Nomad? [Q29]
  7. Is a Lead Managing Underwriter List to be prepared for each issuing party, or will there just be one list for use with all issues? [Q30]
  8. What are the criteria for registration on the list, and what does it take to get removed from it? [Q31]
  9. Would a company have to pay some registration fee to get listed on the Lead Managing Underwriter List? [Q32]
  10. Will there be any exceptions to the lead managing underwriter requirement? [Q33]
  11. What is the standard schedule for a listing based on Program Information? [Q34]
  12. What is the standard schedule for a listing not based on Program Information? [Q35]

Duty of disclosure of issuer information, other duties (Regulations 13–19)

  1. Could you please tell us a bit more about the “timely and appropriate” disclosure regulations? [Q36]
  2. Could you tell us about the method for timely and appropriate disclosure. [Q37]
  3. In what cases would one be exempt from the timely and appropriate disclosure requirements? [Q38]
  4. Can a format other than that of Form No. 7 be used for Issuer Filing Information? [Q39]
  5. In what situations is it not necessary to disclose Issuer Filing Information? [Q40]
  6. What accounting standards will you recognize? [Q41]
  7. Could you tell us how Issuer Filing Information is to be disclosed? [Q42]
  8. To what degree is the issuer expected to maintain a web presence (website)? [Q43]
  9. In what cases would listing fees be incurred. How much would they be? [Q44]

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Maintenance of market order, delisting (Regulations 20–24)

  1. In what sort of instances would a bond be delisted? [Q45]
  2. Could one apply for a delisting in a case other than one of the above? [Q46]

Trading system (Business Regulations, etc.)

  1. Would it be permissible to trade listed bonds off market?. [Q47]
  2. What would be the minimum trading unit?. [Q48]
  3. What range of investors do you have in mind?. [Q49]
  4. Are nonresidents eligible for the Japanese Bond Income Tax Exemption Scheme introduced by the tax system revision in fiscal year 2010?. [Q50]
  5. Is the Exchange to operate on a presumption that the bond is taxable or that the bond is tax-exempt? [Q51]
  6. Are there any limitations on currency with regards to bonds denominated in foreign currencies? [Q52]

Clearance and settlement system (the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market: Trading System and Settlement and Clearance System, etc.)

  1. How are clearance and settlement to be handled for transactions on the Exchange? [Q53]
  2. How are clearance and settlement to be handled for transactions off the Exchange? [Q54]

Legal, etc.

  1. When conducting solicitations for listed bonds, how would the transfer limitation contracts required under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act be handled?. [Q55]
  2. What are the duties of notification regarding a bond listing?. [Q56]
  3. Could you please tell us something about the contents of and system for underwriting examinations and due diligence examinations by securities companies? What duties or restrictions are imposed by the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market rules? [Q57]
  4. Is the TOKYO PRO-BOND Market data to be included within statistical compilations of bond trading data? [Q58]