Buying companies with a financial license in Singapore and Hong Kong

International law firm Antwort Law specializes in supporting transactions for the acquisition of ready-made companies with financial licenses around the world. Companies in the Asian region, in particular in Hong Kong and Singapore, are especially popular among our clients. We offer carefully checked solutions, understanding that the acquisition of companies with financial licenses requires the highest level of attention and professionalism. Our portfolio includes companies that have undergone a full legal check, which minimizes risks and ensures the safety of transactions for our clients.

Acquiring a company with an existing financial license in jurisdictions such as Hong Kong and Singapore provides many advantages:

1) Quick market entry: buying a ready-made company with a license allows you to immediately begin operating activities, avoiding lengthy registration and permitting processes, which for financial companies can take from 6 to 12 months.

2) Reliability and transparency: all companies in our portfolio are either under our professional support or have undergone full legal due diligence.

3) Variety of licenses: we offer a wide range of companies with different types of licenses, from MSO in Hong Kong to SPI in Singapore, which allows you to choose the best solution for your business goals and strategy.

Examples of companies in our portfolio:

Company 1: Hong Kong, MSO license, is an excellent opportunity for those who want to start financial activities in Hong Kong with minimal costs for registration and obtaining a license.

Basic information:

• Date of registration: 2017;
• Date of issue of MSO license: 2018, next license renewal in 2026.
• Types of activity:
• 1. Money exchange service;
• 2. Money transfer service.
• The company is fully updated, the license is confirmed, meets all requirements and laws, was renewed in January 2024;
• Monthly operating expenses: rent, director/compliance officer (CO) and others about $ 7,5000 per month;
• Bank account: currently no bank account, but an account can be opened (opened under the owner);
• Trading system: Self-developed (own platform);
• Verification system: Refinitiv World-Check.

Company 2: Singapore, SPI (Small Payment Institution) license, it is quite difficult to obtain such a license on your own in Singapore, which makes this option especially attractive to international investors.

Basic information:

• Date of incorporation: 2018
• License: SPI, officially entered in the register of companies in Singapore; date of issue - 2018;
• Status: an active company with fully paid reporting and benefits on the authorized capital;
• Paid share capital: $110,000.00;
• Legal address: has its own physical office;
• Monthly operating expenses: office, compliance officer (CO), lawyer (costs are discussed with the owner). 

Also, one of the key issues for those planning to manage such a company is opening a corporate account. In most cases, an account is opened after the completion of the purchase of the company and the change of shareholders or directors, since after changing the corporate structure it is necessary to go through a repeated compliance process. The cost of opening an account in Hong Kong and Singapore varies from 10,000 to 50,000 euros, depending on the specifics of the company's work and the complexity of the procedure. 

We strongly recommend conducting a thorough legal check before completing the transaction, as there are many dubious offers on the market. A responsible approach to the acquisition of financial companies in such strict jurisdictions as Hong Kong and Singapore guarantees a stable and successful business in the long term. Antwort Law offers comprehensive support at all stages of the transaction: from legal due diligence of the company to negotiations with the owners, organization of opening a bank account and subsequent support of the company's activities. We will be happy to answer all your questions on the acquisition of ready-made companies.

Lidia Ivanova

International lawyer
Antwort Law