Licensed for What You Do, Ready for What Comes Next
Apply for a CMS licence with a clear, well-prepared submission. Alder handles eligibility review, documentation, and MAS liaison through to in-principle approval.
Launching a brokerage, a corporate finance advisory, or a custody business in Singapore starts with a Capital Markets Services licence. Alder scopes the regulated activities you need, builds an application MAS can assess with confidence, and puts your compliance framework in place so you are ready to operate from the day the licence is granted.
Need to map your regulated activities?
Book a discovery call to scope your CMS licence singapore requirements and flag issues early.
What Is a CMS Licence?
A Capital Markets Services licence, commonly called a CMS licence, is a core MAS regulated licence issued under the Securities and Futures Act. It is granted activity by activity, and each regulated activity brings its own questions from MAS. Knowing where MAS will focus is what separates a smooth licence application from a long one.
| Regulated Activity | What it Covers | Where MAS Will Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dealing in capital markets products | Trading securities, derivatives and other capital markets products for clients, or arranging those trades. | Client money and asset segregation, best execution, trade surveillance. |
| Advising on corporate finance | Advising on fundraising, listings, takeovers and restructurings. | Conflicts of interest, information barriers, due diligence standards. |
| Fund management | Managing portfolios or funds for investors. | Covered in depth on our specific MAS Fund Management licensing page. |
| REIT management | Managing a real estate investment trust. | Governance, related-party transactions, investor protection. |
| Product financing | Lending to clients to buy capital markets products, such as margin financing. | Credit risk, margin controls, financial resources. |
| Providing credit rating services | Issuing credit ratings on entities or instruments. | Methodology, independence, conflicts of interest. |
| Providing custodial services | Safekeeping securities and other client assets. | Segregation, reconciliations, safeguarding arrangements. |
What Our CMS Licence Application Service Includes
Everything MAS expects to see, prepared by one team and written for your unique business model.
Regulatory Scoping & Business Plan
We draft a regulatory scoping memo identifying the exact regulated activities your licence must cover, alongside a clear business plan detailing your financial projections and model.
Fit, Proper & Representative Planning
We compile fit and proper submissions for key officers while mapping your staff to representative requirements, including handling CMFAS examinations and representative notifications.
Compliance & AML/CFT Frameworks
We construct a proportionate compliance manual, monitoring programme, and AML/CFT framework complete with a formal business risk assessment and customer due diligence procedures.
Application Filing & MAS Queries
We manage your risk, technology, and continuity policies, complete all application filing, and handle MAS's questions and interviews through to formal in-principle approval.
How an Engagement Runs
A structured roadmap from your initial operational plans to formal MAS approval.
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01
Phase 1: Assess
We review your plans, confirm the exact licence scope, and deliver a gap report showing what is ready and what is missing.
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02
Phase 2: Build
We prepare your documents, plan your base capital and people, and align every policy with how your firm will actually operate.
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03
Phase 3: Submit & Support
We file your licence application, manage MAS engagement, help you meet in-principle approval conditions, and prepare you for go-live.
Before You Apply: What You Will Need
Don't have all of this yet? That's normal. Our Phase 1 gap report shows exactly what is missing and the order to fix it.
Choose the Support Level You Need
- Application Support: Scoping, documentation, MAS queries, and filing through to licence grant.
- Application & Compliance Setup: Adds go-live compliance calendars, registers, and staff training before launch.
- Application & Ongoing Compliance: Secures an outsourced compliance officer for post-grant monitoring and annual reviews.
Already Licensed? Variations & Changes
Our support does not stop at the first licence. We help licensed firms apply to vary a licence as business expands (adding regulated activities), prepare for MAS approval regarding changes in shareholding or control, map fit and proper notifications for new key officers, and review internal policies for new product segments.
Why Choose Alder?
- Activity-specific preparation: We address MAS focus points like custody segregation and best execution before MAS asks.
- Written for your business: No template manuals; every policy reflects actual operations.
- Representatives handled: Competency mapping and notifications are integrated, not an afterthought.
- One team end-to-end: Structuring, licensing, and compliance setup under one roof.
