COMPANIES ACT 2016
“licensed institution” means a licensed bank, licensed investment bank, licensed Islamic bank, licensed international Islamic bank, licensed insurer, licensed takaful operator and licensed international takaful operator;
A licensed institution is a financial institution that has been granted a licence by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to carry on specified regulated financial services under the:
- Financial Services Act 2013 (FSA 2013); or
- Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (IFSA 2013).
The Companies Act 2016 adopts this definition to identify financial institutions that are subject to Malaysia's specialised financial regulatory framework. These institutions are not only governed by the Companies Act 2016 but are also subject to extensive prudential regulation, supervision, and licensing requirements imposed by Bank Negara Malaysia.
Types of Licensed Institutions
The Companies Act 2016 recognises the following categories of licensed institutions:
1. Licensed Bank
A commercial bank licensed under the Financial Services Act 2013 to conduct conventional banking business, including:
- Accepting deposits;
- Granting loans and financing;
- Providing payment services;
- Issuing banking products and services.
2. Licensed Investment Bank
A financial institution licensed to conduct investment banking activities, including:
- Corporate finance advisory;
- Underwriting securities;
- Capital market financing;
- Structured finance; and
- Other approved investment banking services.
3. Licensed Islamic Bank
An Islamic bank licensed under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 to provide Shariah-compliant banking products and services.
Its operations comply with Shariah principles and are supervised by Bank Negara Malaysia.
4. Licensed International Islamic Bank
A licensed Islamic banking institution established primarily to conduct international Islamic banking business in accordance with Malaysian financial legislation.
These institutions often operate within Malaysia's international financial centres and serve cross-border financial markets.
5. Licensed Insurer
An insurance company licensed under the Financial Services Act 2013 to conduct:
- Life insurance;
- General insurance; or
- Other authorised insurance business.
6. Licensed Takaful Operator
A corporation licensed under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 to provide Shariah-compliant takaful products, including:
- Family takaful; and
- General takaful.
7. Licensed International Takaful Operator
A takaful operator licensed to carry on international takaful business, serving international markets while complying with Malaysian Islamic financial regulations.
Key Characteristics of a Licensed Institution
A licensed institution generally:
- Holds a valid licence issued by Bank Negara Malaysia;
- Conducts regulated financial business;
- Is subject to the Financial Services Act 2013 or the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013;
- Must comply with prudential standards, governance requirements, and risk management rules;
- Is subject to continuous regulatory supervision by Bank Negara Malaysia; and
- Must also comply with the Companies Act 2016 where applicable.
Practical Examples
Example 1 – Commercial Bank
ABC Bank Berhad holds a banking licence issued by Bank Negara Malaysia.
ABC Bank Berhad is a licensed institution because it is a licensed bank.
Example 2 – Islamic Bank
XYZ Islamic Bank Berhad is licensed under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.
It is a licensed institution because it is a licensed Islamic bank.
Example 3 – Insurance Company
DEF Insurance Berhad holds a licence to conduct life insurance business under the Financial Services Act 2013.
The company is a licensed institution.
Example 4 – Takaful Operator
GHI Takaful Berhad provides family and general takaful products under a licence issued by Bank Negara Malaysia.
The company is a licensed institution because it is a licensed takaful operator.
Regulatory Oversight
Licensed institutions are regulated primarily by Bank Negara Malaysia, which oversees matters including:
- Licensing and authorisation;
- Corporate governance;
- Capital adequacy;
- Liquidity management;
- Risk management;
- Consumer protection;
- Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance; and
- Ongoing regulatory reporting and supervision.
Compliance Requirements
Licensed institutions should ensure that they:
- Maintain a valid licence under the applicable financial services legislation;
- Comply with the Financial Services Act 2013 or the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013;
- Observe all prudential standards and regulatory guidelines issued by Bank Negara Malaysia;
- Maintain adequate capital, governance, and internal control systems; and
- Fulfil their corporate obligations under the Companies Act 2016.
Importance
The definition of "licensed institution" identifies the principal categories of financial institutions that operate under Malaysia's prudential regulatory framework. By specifically recognising licensed banks, Islamic banks, investment banks, insurers, and takaful operators, the Companies Act 2016 aligns corporate law with Malaysia's financial services legislation. This ensures that licensed financial institutions are subject to enhanced regulatory oversight, promotes the stability and integrity of the financial system, protects depositors, policyholders, and investors, and supports Malaysia's position as a leading regional centre for both conventional and Islamic financial services.
《2016 年公司法》
“持牌机构”（Licensed Institution） 是指：
- 持牌银行（Licensed Bank）；
- 持牌投资银行（Licensed Investment Bank）；
- 持牌伊斯兰银行（Licensed Islamic Bank）；
- 持牌国际伊斯兰银行（Licensed International Islamic Bank）；
- 持牌保险公司（Licensed Insurer）；
- 持牌伊斯兰保险营运机构（Licensed Takaful Operator）；以及
- 持牌国际伊斯兰保险营运机构（Licensed International Takaful Operator）。
持牌机构（Licensed Institution） 是指已获得**马来西亚国家银行（Bank Negara Malaysia，BNM）**依据下列法令发出牌照，从事受监管金融业务的金融机构：
- 《2013 年金融服务法令》（Financial Services Act 2013，FSA 2013）；或
- 《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》（Islamic Financial Services Act 2013，IFSA 2013）。
《2016 年公司法》采用上述定义，以识别适用马来西亚专业金融监管制度的金融机构。
因此，持牌机构不仅须遵守《2016 年公司法》，同时亦须遵守由马来西亚国家银行实施的审慎监管（Prudential Regulation）、持续监督（Supervision）及发牌制度（Licensing Requirements）。
持牌机构的类别（Types of Licensed Institutions）
《2016 年公司法》承认以下类别的持牌机构：
1. 持牌银行（Licensed Bank）
依据《2013 年金融服务法令》取得牌照经营传统银行业务的商业银行，包括：
- 吸收存款（Accepting Deposits）；
- 提供贷款及融资（Granting Loans and Financing）；
- 提供支付服务（Providing Payment Services）；以及
- 提供各类银行产品及金融服务。
2. 持牌投资银行（Licensed Investment Bank）
获准经营投资银行业务的金融机构，包括：
- 企业融资顾问服务（Corporate Finance Advisory）；
- 证券承销（Underwriting Securities）；
- 资本市场融资（Capital Market Financing）；
- 结构性融资（Structured Finance）；以及
- 经批准的其他投资银行服务。
3. 持牌伊斯兰银行（Licensed Islamic Bank）
依据《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》取得牌照，为客户提供符合**伊斯兰教法（Shariah）**的银行产品及金融服务。
其业务须符合伊斯兰教法原则，并接受马来西亚国家银行监管。
4. 持牌国际伊斯兰银行（Licensed International Islamic Bank）
主要从事国际伊斯兰银行业务，并依据马来西亚金融法例取得牌照的伊斯兰银行。
该类机构通常设于马来西亚国际金融中心，为跨境客户及国际市场提供伊斯兰金融服务。
5. 持牌保险公司（Licensed Insurer）
依据《2013 年金融服务法令》取得牌照经营下列保险业务的保险公司：
- 人寿保险（Life Insurance）；
- 一般保险（General Insurance）；或
- 其他获批准经营的保险业务。
6. 持牌伊斯兰保险营运机构（Licensed Takaful Operator）
依据《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》取得牌照，提供符合伊斯兰教法的 Takaful 产品，包括：
- 家庭伊斯兰保险（Family Takaful）；以及
- 一般伊斯兰保险（General Takaful）。
7. 持牌国际伊斯兰保险营运机构（Licensed International Takaful Operator）
获准经营国际伊斯兰保险业务的 Takaful 营运机构，为国际市场提供服务，并遵守马来西亚伊斯兰金融监管制度。
持牌机构的主要特点（Key Characteristics of a Licensed Institution）
持牌机构一般具有以下特点：
- 持有马来西亚国家银行签发的有效牌照；
- 从事受监管的金融业务；
- 受《2013 年金融服务法令》或《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》规管；
- 须遵守审慎监管标准、公司治理要求及风险管理规定；
- 持续接受马来西亚国家银行监督及监管；以及
- 在适用情况下，同时须遵守《2016 年公司法》的规定。
实务示例（Practical Examples）
例子一：商业银行（Commercial Bank）
ABC Bank Berhad 持有马来西亚国家银行签发的银行牌照。
由于其属于持牌银行（Licensed Bank），因此属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的持牌机构（Licensed Institution）。
例子二：伊斯兰银行（Islamic Bank）
XYZ Islamic Bank Berhad 根据《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》取得经营伊斯兰银行业务的牌照。
由于其属于持牌伊斯兰银行（Licensed Islamic Bank），因此属于持牌机构。
例子三：保险公司（Insurance Company）
DEF Insurance Berhad 根据《2013 年金融服务法令》取得经营人寿保险业务的牌照。
因此，该公司属于持牌机构。
例子四：伊斯兰保险营运机构（Takaful Operator）
GHI Takaful Berhad 根据马来西亚国家银行发出的牌照，经营家庭及一般伊斯兰保险（Family Takaful 及 General Takaful）业务。
由于其属于持牌伊斯兰保险营运机构（Licensed Takaful Operator），因此属于持牌机构。
监管机构（Regulatory Oversight）
持牌机构主要由**马来西亚国家银行（Bank Negara Malaysia，BNM）**负责监管，其监管范围包括：
- 发牌及授权（Licensing and Authorisation）；
- 公司治理（Corporate Governance）；
- 资本充足率（Capital Adequacy）；
- 流动资金管理（Liquidity Management）；
- 风险管理（Risk Management）；
- 消费者保障（Consumer Protection）；
- 反洗钱及反恐融资（AML/CFT）合规；以及
- 持续性的监管申报及监督（Ongoing Regulatory Reporting and Supervision）。
合规要求（Compliance Requirements）
持牌机构应确保：
- 持续持有依据适用金融法例签发的有效牌照；
- 遵守《2013 年金融服务法令》或《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》的规定；
- 遵循马来西亚国家银行发布的所有审慎监管标准、监管指引及其他规定；
- 建立充足的资本基础、完善的公司治理制度及有效的内部控制系统；以及
- 履行《2016 年公司法》规定的各项公司法责任及义务。
重要性（Importance）
“持牌机构（Licensed Institution）” 的定义明确界定了马来西亚受审慎金融监管制度规管的主要金融机构类别。
《2016 年公司法》透过明确承认持牌银行、伊斯兰银行、投资银行、保险公司及伊斯兰保险营运机构等金融机构，使公司法与《2013 年金融服务法令》及《2013 年伊斯兰金融服务法令》保持一致。
这一制度的重要意义包括：
- 确保持牌金融机构接受更严格及专业的金融监管；
- 维护马来西亚金融体系的稳定性、健全性及诚信；
- 保障存款人、保单持有人、投资者及其他金融消费者的权益；
- 加强金融机构的风险管理、公司治理及资本充足能力；以及
- 巩固马来西亚作为区域领先的传统金融与伊斯兰金融中心的国际地位，促进金融市场持续、稳健及可持续发展。
Malaysia
