We advise issuers of digital tokens, ICO advisors, fintech businesses on regulatory and compliance issues on a wide range of business activities, including utilisation of blockchain to enable business applications, dealings and offers of digital tokens, setting up cryptocurrency exchanges, and application of the Payment Institution Licence under the Payment Services Act.

PAYMENT INSTITUTION LICENCE

We can help you navigate the license application process for various payment services under the Payment Services Act, including account issuance, domestic and cross-border money transfer services, merchant acquisition services, e-money issuance services, digital payment token services, and money-changing services. Although the qualifying criteria for these licenses are generally clear, each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the regulator, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Therefore, the application process is not just a matter of ticking items on a checklist. We will provide assistance in assessing the fitness and propriety of proposed directors and professionals, as well as the nature of your business model as outlined in your business plan, to increase your chances of approval.

CAPITAL MARKETS SERVICES (CMS) LICENCE

We offer tailored advice to clients on the regulatory requirements relevant to their capital market license application, such as the Securities and Futures Act and other relevant regulations and guidelines. Our services also include assistance with the preparation of the license application, including the submission of the required documents and materials to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) or other relevant regulatory authorities. We conduct due diligence on the applicant company and its key personnel, including directors, officers, and shareholders, to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations. Additionally, we prepare disclosure documents such as prospectuses, offering circulars, or information memorandums that may be required as part of the license application.

We advise on appropriate structures for the family office, setting up of the corporate entity, compliance with regulations including issuing of legal opinion on single family office status, seeking exemption from registration or licensing from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, assisting in migration and re-domiciliation matters, liaising with tax advisers on obtaining tax incentives.

FUND MANAGEMENT LICENSING OR REGISTRATION

We provide guidance on the different types of licenses and registrations available for fund management companies, including Licensed Fund Management Company (LFMC), Registered Fund Management Company (RFMC), and Venture Capital Fund Manager (VCFM). Our services include assistance in preparing and reviewing the necessary submission forms to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and providing advice on compliance requirements, such as anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations, for fund management companies.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING POLICIES AND COUNTERING OF TERRORISM POLICIES

We provide tailored advice to fund management companies on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations, and their compliance obligations, including customer due diligence, record-keeping, and reporting requirements to regulators and law enforcement agencies. We also help identify and assess the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing in their operations and provide guidance on measures to manage and mitigate those risks. This approach ensures that our advice is specific to the unique risks and operations of each fund management company we work with.

We assist with the incorporation of Variable Capital Companies (VCC), lodgement of sub-funds with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, drafting and reviewing of fund management documents including the information memorandum, subscription and redemption documents, investment management agreement between the VCC and fund manager.

FINTECH REGULATORY SANDBOX

We provide advisory on the process of applying for entry into the Monetary Authority of Singapore's FinTech regulatory sandbox. Our services involve reviewing your proposed product or service, as well as your business model, to assess whether it meets the requirements for entry into the sandbox and aligns with the sandbox's objectives and principles. Additionally, we provide guidance on how to prepare your application, including the submission of all necessary documents and materials, to improve your chances of entering the regulatory sandbox and successfully launching your innovative fintech product or service in Singapore.