Singapore is Asia’s reference jurisdiction for payments, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is among the most respected and most demanding regulators in the world. Obtaining a Major Payment Institution licence from scratch is a long and uncertain process. Existing MPIs therefore rarely come to market.
We are presenting one: 100% of the shares of a Singapore company holding an MPI licence.
Request the confidential teaser.
Key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Licence | Major Payment Institution (MPI) under the Payment Services Act |
| Regulator | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) |
| Authorised service | Cross-border money transfer |
| Company | Established Singapore exempt private company, with a track record with MAS |
| Transaction | Sale of 100% of the issued share capital |
| Banking | Existing relationship with a local Singapore bank |
| People | Compliance officer and local director in place |
| Technology | IT and software handover assistance after completion |
| Price | On request |
Why an MPI is worth buying
- The top tier of payment licence in Singapore. Unlike a standard payment institution, an MPI is not limited by transaction volume or e-money float thresholds.
- Cross-border money transfer is the core of remittance and B2B payment flows across Asia, with Singapore as a natural hub.
- Credibility. A MAS licence is recognised by banks, payment partners and counterparties worldwide.
- Time. Buying an existing licensed company replaces a long application process with a change-in-control approval. The licence stays within the company.
An MPI licence covers only the payment services for which it is granted. Adding further services, such as e-money issuance or digital payment tokens, would require MAS approval.
What it takes to get an MPI from scratch
To see the value of an existing licence, look at what a new applicant faces:
- Local substance: a company incorporated in Singapore with a permanent place of business there.
- Local directors: at least one executive director who is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, or one executive director on an Employment Pass together with a non-executive director who is a citizen or permanent resident.
- Capital and security: base capital of SGD 250,000 at all times, and a security deposit with MAS of SGD 100,000, or SGD 200,000 if monthly transactions average more than SGD 6 million.
- Fit and proper people: directors, CEO, controllers and compliance staff all assessed by MAS.
- A full compliance framework: AML/CFT policies, safeguarding of client money, technology risk management and business continuity, supported by a legal opinion from a Singapore law firm on the services provided.
Then comes the application itself: rounds of questions from MAS, possibly interviews, an in-principle approval with conditions to meet, and only then the licence. In practice, applicants should plan for six to nine months after filing, longer for complex business models, on top of the preparation. An incomplete file can be put on hold.
Buying an existing MPI replaces all of this with one question for MAS: is the new owner fit and proper? The licence, the local director, the compliance officer and the banking relationship are already in place.
How the transaction works
The structure is built around the MAS change-in-control approval, so that the buyer does not pay the full price before approval:
- Confidentiality agreement, after which the company’s identity and records are disclosed;
- two weeks of due diligence;
- share purchase agreement, with a deposit forming part of the price;
- escrow for the balance, with staged releases during the approval period;
- MAS approval and completion: control passes only once MAS has approved the new owner.
Singapore law applies, with arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. To understand what the regulator looks at, see Buying a Bank or an EMI: How the Regulator’s Approval Really Works.
Who this is for
Payment and remittance companies expanding into Asia, fintechs that need a Singapore base, financial groups adding a regulated payment arm, and investors able to pass a MAS change-in-control review: clear ownership, documented source of funds and a credible business plan.
Next steps
Qualified buyers are invited to contact us for the confidential teaser. The company’s identity and the full information package are shared after a first discussion and the signature of a confidentiality agreement. Write to insight@fintechlex.com.
This page is a summary for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any shares or securities. Any transaction is subject to due diligence, definitive agreements and the approval of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
