The Government of The Bahamas

CHAPTER 383 GENERAL LOAN AND STOCK
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
Short title. 1.
Interpretation. 2.
Loans to be raised by debentures or stock. 3.
Loans to be a charge upon general revenue. 4.
Borrowing upon debentures. 5.
Amount of each debenture. 6.
Debentures may be redeemed by annual drawings or by purchase in the market or on a date fixed. 7.
Interest coupons. 8.
Form of debentures and coupons. 9.
Debentures and coupons transferable by delivery. 10.
Registry of debentures. 11.
Payment of interest. 12.
Mode of providing for payment of interest on debentures. 13.
Further sums to be remitted for the redemption of the debentures. 14.
Application of sinking fund. 15.
Creation of sinking fund for redemption of debentures payable on a fixed date. 16.
Disposal of sinking fund when debentures are redeemed by purchase or by annual drawings. 17.
Appointment of day for drawings of debentures. 18.
Notice of time and place appointed for drawing. 19.
Mode of drawing. 20.
Notice of debentures drawn for redemption. 21.
Payment of drawn debentures. 22.
Cesser of interest from day appointed for payment of principal. 23.
Redeemed debentures to be cancelled. 24.
Borrowing upon stock. 25.
When the principal is to be repaid. 26.
Mode of providing for the payment of interest on stock. 27.
Mode of providing for payment of principal of stock. 28.
Creation of sinking fund. 29.
Charge upon consolidated fund. 30.
Expenses to be paid out of sinking fund. 31.
Powers of Minister. 32.
Exchange of securities for stock. 33.
Converted securities to be cancelled. 34.
Trustees to apportion amount of sinking funds released by conversion. 35.
Sinking funds released: how to be disposed of. 36.
Creation, inscription, registration, issue, conversion and transfer of stock. 37.
Regulations. 38.
Saving. 39.
CHAPTER 383
GENERAL LOAN AND STOCK
An Act to declare the terms and conditions applicable to loans authorised to be raised in England by the Government of The Bahamas and to provide for the creation of inscribed stock.	8 of 1952 8 of 1953 G.N. 172/1964 E.L.A.O., 1974
[Commencement 21st July, 1952]
1. This Act may be cited as the General Loan and Stock Act.	Short title.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-	Interpretation.
"Crown Agents" means the persons for the time being acting as Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations in England, or any of them;
"Minister" means the Minister of Finance;
"Registered Stock" means stock transferable by instrument in writing;
"stock" includes both inscribed and registered stock.
3. Whenever by any Act authority shall have been given, or shall hereafter be given, to raise any sum of money in England for the purposes mentioned in such Act, the Minister or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf, may from time to time, as he or they may deem expedient, raise such sum either by debentures or by stock or partly by debentures and partly by stock.	Loans to be raised by debentures or stock.
4. The principal moneys and interest represented by debentures or stock issued under the provisions of this Act are hereby charged upon and shall be payable out of the general revenues and assets of The Bahamas.	Loans to be a charge upon general revenue.
5. When the Minister or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf, shall deem it expedient to raise money by debentures, such debentures shall be issued in London on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas by the Crown Agents, upon the best and most favourable terms that can be obtained, and shall be signed by any one of them on that behalf.	Borrowing upon debentures.
6. Every debenture issued under the provisions of this Act shall be for the sum of not less than one hundred pounds sterling.	Amount of each debenture.
7. The debentures shall be redeemable either-	Debentures may be redeemed by annual drawings or by purchase in the market or on a date fixed.
(a) at par on a fixed date to be declared on the issue of the debentures such date not being later than sixty years from the date of issue:
Provided that the Minister or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf, may reserve the option to redeem the debentures prior to such date on such conditions as may be declared at the time of issue; or
(b) by annual drawings at par or at the option of the Minister or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf, by purchase at or below par.
8. There shall be attached to every debenture coupons for the payment of the interest to become due in each half year upon the principal represented by the debenture. The coupons shall be sufficient in number to provide for the payment of the interest, either during the whole period for which the debenture has to run, or for such limited period as the Crown Agents, acting on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas, may determine.	Interest coupons.
9. The debentures and the coupons thereto shall be in such form as the Minister, or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf, may direct or approve.	Form of debentures and coupons.
10. Every debenture and coupon, and the right to receive the principal and interest represented thereby, shall be transferable by delivery.	Debentures and coupons transferable by delivery.
11. Every debenture shall, before being issued, be registered in a register book to be kept for that purpose at the office in London of the Crown Agents.	Registry of debentures.
12. The interest upon the principal represented by each debenture shall run from the day named in that behalf in the debenture, and shall be paid half yearly on the days named in that behalf in the debenture, at the office in London of the Crown Agents.	Payment of interest.
13. So long as any of the debentures remain outstanding, the Minister shall, in each half-year ending with the day on which the interest on the debentures falls due, appropriate out of the Consolidated Fund, a sum equal to one-half year's interest on the whole of the debentures issued, including any which may have been redeemed, but exclusive of any which may have been at any time exchanged for stock, and shall remit that sum to the Crown Agents at such time as will enable them to pay thereout the then current half-year's interest on the day on which it falls due. Debentures shall not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of this Act by reason only that one or more of the debentures have not been presented for payment on the day appointed for payment and have, in consequence, not been paid.	Mode of providing for payment of interest on debentures.
14. (1) The Minister shall, in the half year ending on the date specified in the terms of issue of the loan as that on which the first contribution to the sinking fund shall be taken and in each subsequent half year, appropriate out of the Consolidated Fund of The Bahamas for the formation of a sinking fund an additional sum equal to one-half of the annual contribution specified in the prospectus or, in the case of a loan not issued publicly, in the terms of issue relating to the loan, in respect of the total nominal amount of all the debentures issued, including any which may have been redeemed, but exclusive of any which may have been at any time exchanged for stock, and shall remit that sum to the Crown Agents with the remittance hereinbefore mentioned.	Further sums to be remitted for the redemption of the debentures.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in subsection (1) of this section, if any time the trustees of the sinking fund of any loan issued under the provisions of this Act are satisfied that the value of the fund will be sufficient with further accumulations of interest but without further payment of contributions to enable the loan to be redeemed out of the proceeds of the sinking fund not later than the final redemption date, the Minister may suspend further contributions to the said sinking fund:
Provided always that contributions to the sinking fund shall be recommended if the trustees shall at any time inform the Minister that this is necessary.
15. The sinking fund shall be applied in the first place in payment of all expenses of, or incidental to, the redemption of the debentures and the cost and expenses of all notices required by this Act to be given, and in the next place, and subject to the aforesaid payments, in repayments of the principal moneys for the time being represented by the debentures.	Application of sinking fund.
16. In the case of debentures redeemable on a fixed date the Crown Agents shall place at interest or invest in the purchase of such securities so much of the money so remitted to them as aforesaid as shall not be required for the payment of interest for the current half year, as a sinking fund for the final extinction of the debt, and the Crown Agents shall also place at interest or invest in the purchase of like securities the accumulations of interest or the dividends, interest or produce of such investments and may, from time to time, change any such investments and shall hold such fund in trust for the repayment of the principal moneys for the time being represented by the debentures.	Creation of sinking fund for redemption of debentures payable on a fixed date.
17. In the case of debentures redeemable by annual drawings, the Crown Agents shall place and keep the moneys so remitted to them, or so much thereof as may not be required for immediate payments, at interest, and shall hold all such moneys and the accumulation thereon in trust to apply them in the first place to the purchase of the debentures when they can be obtained at a price not exceeding par, and secondly, to the redemption of the debentures by means of annual drawings.	Disposal of sinking fund when debentures are redeemed by purchase or by annual drawings.
18. After the date specified in the Act authorising a loan as that on which the contribution to the sinking fund shall commence in respect of that loan, and so long thereafter as any of the debentures remain outstanding and unsatisfied, the Crown Agents shall in every year, unless the whole of the money applicable in that year to the redemption of debentures has been applied in the purchase thereof, appoint a day in that year for the drawing by lot of the debentures to be redeemed.	Appointment of day for drawing of debentures.
19. If a day is appointed for drawing, the Crown Agents shall give, by advertisement in the London Times newspaper, not less than fifteen days' previous notice, specifying the day on which, and the hour and place at which, the drawing will take place.	Notice of time and place appointed for drawing.
20. On the day and at the hour and place so specified the Crown Agents shall hold a meeting, at which the holder of any debenture, may, if he thinks fit, be present, and shall then in the presence of such debenture holders, if any, as may attend, and of a notary public, draw by lot, out of the whole number of debentures for the time being outstanding, debentures of the specified nominal amount.	Mode of drawing.
21. The Crown Agents shall thereupon declare the distinguishing numbers of the debentures drawn for redemption, and shall, as soon as may be, by advertisement in the London Times newspaper, specify those numbers and appoint a day, not being later as to each debenture than the day on which the then current half-year's interest thereon is payable, on which the principal moneys represented by the debentures so distinguished will be repaid.	Notice of debentures drawn for redemption.
22. On the day so appointed the Crown Agents shall, at their office in London, on demand, pay to the holders of the debentures drawn for repayment the principal moneys represented by those debentures, with all interest payable thereon up to that day.	Payment of drawn debentures.
23. From and after the day appointed for the repayment of any debenture all interest on the principal moneys represented thereby shall cease and determine, whether payment of the principal shall have been demanded or not.	Cesser of interest from day appointed for payment of principal.
24. Upon the repayment of the principal moneys represented by any debenture, the debenture, with all coupons thereunto belonging, shall be delivered up to the Crown Agents, to be by them cancelled and forwarded to the Minister. Any debenture redeemed by purchase shall likewise be so cancelled and disposed of.	Redeemed debentures to be cancelled.
25. When the Minister or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf shall deem it expedient to raise money by the issue of stock, then such stock shall be issued in England by the Crown Agents under the provisions of the Act of the Imperial Parliament entitled the Colonial Stock Act, 1877, upon the best and most favourable terms that can be obtained.	Borrowing upon stock.
26. All the stock which may be created under the provisions of this Act shall be redeemable at par on a date to be named in that behalf by the Crown Agents when issuing the stock, such date not being later than sixty years from the date of issue:	When the principal is to be repaid.
Provided that the Minister, or the Crown Agents acting on his behalf, may reserve the option to redeem the stock in whole or in part by drawings or otherwise, at any time prior to such date on such conditions as may be declared at the time of issue. From and after the date appointed for the redemption of the stock or any part of it all the interest on the principal moneys represented thereby shall cease and determine, whether payment of the principal shall have been demanded or not.	When the principal is to be repaid.
27. So long as any of the stock shall remain unredeemed, the Minister shall, in each half-year ending with the day on which the interest on such stock falls due, appropriate out of the Consolidated Fund a sum equal to one half year's interest on the whole of such stock, and shall remit that sum to the Crown Agents at such time as will enable them to pay thereout the then current half year's interest on the day when it falls due.	Mode of providing for the payment of interest on stock.
28. (1) The Minister shall, in the half year ending on the date specified in the terms of issue of the loan as that on which the first contributions to the sinking fund shall be taken and in each subsequent half year, appropriate out of the said Consolidated Fund for the formation of a sinking fund an additional sum equal to one-half of the annual contribution specified in the prospectus or, in the case of a loan not issued publicly, in the terms of issue relating to the loan in respect of the total nominal amount of such stock including any such stock which may at any time have been issued in exchange for debentures under the authority of this Act, and shall remit the sum to the Crown Agents with the remittance hereinbefore mentioned.	Mode of providing for payment of principal of stock.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in subsection (1) of this section, if at any time the trustees of the sinking fund of any loan issued under the provisions of this Act are satisfied that the value of the fund will be sufficient with further accumulations of interest but without further payment of contributions to enable the loan to be redeemed out of the proceeds of the sinking fund not later than the final redemption date, the Minister may suspend further contributions to the said sinking fund:
Provided always that contributions to the sinking fund shall be recommenced if the trustees shall at any time inform the Minister that this is necessary.
29. The Crown Agents shall, for the purpose of forming such sinking fund, from time to time place at interest or invest in the purchase of such securities so much of the money so remitted to them as aforesaid as shall not be required for the payment of interest for the current half year and shall also place at interest or invest in the purchase of like securities, the accumulations of interest or the dividends interest or produce of such investments, and may from time to time, change any such investments, and shall hold such fund in trust for the repayment of the principal moneys for the time being represented by the stock.	Creation of sinking fund.
30. In case the sinking funds provided for by this Act shall be insufficient for the payment of all the principal moneys borrowed under the authority of this Act at the time the same shall have become due, the Governor-General shall make good the deficiency out of the Consolidated Fund.	Charge upon Consolidated Fund.
31. All expenses of or incidental to the management of the sinking fund, or to the payment of the principal moneys borrowed, shall be paid out of the sinking fund.	Expenses to be paid out of sinking fund.
32. The Minister shall also have, and may from time to time exercise, the following powers and authorities or any of them:	Powers of Minister.
(a) he may authorise the Crown Agents when issuing any loan in the form of debentures to declare that such debentures will be convertible into stock at such dates and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Crown Agents at the time of the issue of the debentures;	Debentures convertible into stock on conditions prescribed by the Crown Agents at time of issue.
(b) he may declare all or any of the Bahamas loans, whether existing in the form of stock or debentures, and whether issued before or after the commencement of this Act, to be convertible into stock, to be issued under the provisions of this Act;	Conversion of loans generally.
(c) he may authorise the creation and issue of such an amount of stock in exchange for the securities held for such loans as may be necessary;	Creation and issue of stock in exchange for other securities.
(d) he may authorise the creation and sale of any such stock or debentures for the purpose of raising money for redeeming any outstanding loans whether issued before or subsequent to the passing of this Act, for paying any expense in the creation of stock, and otherwise for carrying out the provisions of this Act;	Creation and sale of stock or debentures to raise loans and other purposes.
(e) any conversion so authorised may be effected either by an arrangement with the holders of existing securities or by purchase thereof out of moneys raised by the sale of stock, or partly in one way and partly in the other.	Arrangements for conversion.
33. Nothing in this Act contained shall authorise an increase of the capital or of the annual charge on any loan, except-	Exchange of securities for stock.
(a) when securities exchanged for stock bear a rate of interest not less than the stock, an additional amount of stock may be created and issued to make up the difference in saleable value between the securities and the stock;
(b) in the case of the conversion of securities into stock the Crown Agents shall issue such an amount of stock as may be required to defray the stamp duties and all other expenses incidental to the conversion;
(c) in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be prescribed under paragraph (a) of section 32 of this Act.
34. (1) The securities exchanged or otherwise converted into stock under the provisions of this Act shall be forthwith cancelled by the Crown Agents, and the debentures surrendered shall be cancelled and transmitted to the Minister.	Converted securities to be cancelled.
35. The trustees of the sinking fund appointed under this Act, and acting under any Act authorising the issue of any securities which may be exchanged into stock or cancelled or purchased under the provisions of this Act, shall determine what amount of the sinking fund held by them and created for repayment of such securities shall be released and in the determination of such question the trustees shall take into consideration the value of the whole investments held by them on account of such sinking funds, the amount of the debt remaining a charge on such sinking funds, and such matters as the trustees may think fit to take into account.	Trustees to apportion amount of sinking funds released by conversion.
36. So much of the sinking funds as may be released shall either be transferred unto the trustees of the stock sinking fund or be disposed of in such a manner as the Minister may direct.	Sinking funds released: how to be disposed of.
37. The Crown Agents may from time to time, at the request of the Minister, make arrangements for all or any of the following things-	Creation, inscription, registration, issue, conversion and transfer of stock.
(a) for inscribing and registering stock in their books;
(b) for managing the creation, inscription, registration and issue of stock, including the issue of certificates of title in respect of such stock;
(c) for effecting the conversion of loans into stock;
(d) for paying interest on stock and managing the transfers thereof;
(e) for issuing stock certificates to bearer, and, as often as occasion shall require, re-inscribing or re-registering them;
(f) for effecting the exchange or conversion of inscribed stock into registered stock.
38. Authority is hereby given for the making of regulations under section 16 of the Colonial Stock Act 1877, to provide that, in accordance with section 1 of the Colonial Stock Act 1848, stock issued (whether before or after the passing of the last mentioned Act) under the provisions of this Act shall be transferable by instrument in writing in accordance with the regulations and in no other manner.	Regulations.
39. Nothing in this Act or in the repeal of the General Loan and Inscribed Stock Act shall affect the rights of any person who holds stock or bonds under the authority of that Act.	Saving.


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