Who Needs to Apply
A company will need an ABA licence if it wishes to administer a designated benchmark, unless exempted. A company will need an ABS licence if it wishes to submit information to a designated benchmark, unless exempted. The definitions for the above regulated activities can be found in Part VIAA of the SFA .
Entities may also be designated as a DBS by MAS.
Admission Criteria
When assessing an application for an ABA or ABS licence, MAS takes into account factors such as:
- Track record, management expertise and financial soundness of the applicant.
- Ability to meet the minimum financial requirements prescribed under the SFA.
- Strength of risk management and accompanying internal controls and systems.
- Business plans and projections.
- Corporate governance, fitness and propriety.
Who Can Apply
An ABA or ABS licence is granted only to a corporation.
How to Apply
To apply for a licence, submit:
Paying the Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $4,000 is required. Please refer to payment instructions contained within the application form.
Processing Time
It will take approximately 6 months to process and approve an application where the applicant meets all relevant admission criteria, and the submission is complete and clear. MAS will require a longer time for complex cases, or where the submission is assessed to be incomplete or inaccurate.
Ensure that your application is complete, accurate, and accompanied by the requisite supporting documents.
Validity of the Licence
An ABA, ABS or DBS licence does not need to be renewed.
The licence is valid until it is revoked, suspended or withdrawn by MAS in accordance with section 123J or 123ZG of the SFA.