Article 156-24Licenses and License Applications

①A person seeking use the clearing framework of a financial instruments exchange market operated by a financial instruments exchange or the clearing framework of an over-the-counter securities market operated by an authorized financial instruments firms association, to engage in the business of lending, to the members, etc. of that financial instruments exchange or to the association members of that authorized financial instruments firms association, the money or securities that are needed for the settlement of purchase and sales and other transactions of securities that a financial instruments business operator effects by granting credit to a customer (hereinafter referred to as a "margin transaction") or for the settlement of a transaction specified by Cabinet Order, must be licensed by the Prime Minister.

②A stock company seeking the license referred to in the preceding paragraph must submit a written application to the Prime Minister, in which it states the following particulars:

③The articles of incorporation, documents giving a business outline and stating the business methods, and other documents specified by Cabinet Office Order must accompany the written application referred to in the preceding paragraph.

④The provisions of Article 81, paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the articles of incorporation referred to in the preceding paragraph.