SECURITIES OR CAPITAL MARKET INTERMEDIARIES LICENCES

There is a very wide selection of licence types that are available to specialist Financial Services providers (like Securities & Capital Market Intermediaries), that are looking to set up and do business in and from a certain jurisdiction. Examples are:

• Investment Dealer (Full Service Dealer including Underwriting);
• Investment Dealer (Full Service Dealer excluding Underwriting);
• Investment Dealer (Broker);
• Investment Adviser (Restricted);
• Investment Adviser (Unrestricted).

When choosing the right jurisdiction for you, there are a number of parameters to take into consideration. One of the most popular jurisdictions for the aforementioned service, is Mauritius. Sovereign Group's team of specialists on the ground, offers the necessary expertise in setting up companies in Mauritius and assisting with special licence applications. We provide full support during the application process to get your company properly set up and licenced in Mauritius. Beyond the application phase we also provide a full suite of services to provide ongoing support to your business. Anything from opening the corporate bank account to accounting services and payroll to specialist insurance services. We provide administration and management of these licences to ensure that they maintain full compliance with all corporate and licensing requirements and to ensure that their affairs are properly managed and controlled from their place of incorporation.

The Financial Services Commission, Mauritius (FSC) is the regulator for the non-banking financial services and global business. Sovereign has been assisting companies from all over the world to establish a company and obtain the license of choice for numerous years now.

Obtaining the initial licences is only the first stage in business licence requirements. Most business licences require periodic renewals and any change in business ownership or operations can result in the need for new licences or amendments to current licences. Staying in compliance requires that you pay attention to these factors:

• Renewal requirements: Most licences are valid for only a specific period of time. Many must be renewed annually. In some cases, all licences must be renewed by a given calendar date; in other cases, the renewal date is tied to the date on which the licence was issued. Licence renewal fees and charges also vary widely.
• Changes to operations: If you expand your business – either through acquisition, additional locations or manpower or though new products or services – you may need to obtain new licences or amend existing ones.
• Changes in laws and regulations: Granting licences to operate serves a number of purposes for governments; raising revenue, controlling certain types of activities, ensuring public safety, and promoting certain types of industries. Accordingly, the licensing laws are likely to change over time and you need to be vigilant to ensure that you stay in compliance.

Sovereign can guide you through the licence process. We can research your business licence jurisdictional requirements, prepare and file required applications, handle fee calculations and payments. We can also track licence and permit due dates and verify with each licence authority that your licences are active.

Using Sovereign to manage and safeguard your licence, permit and registration requirements will save resources and reduce risk and uncertainty, while leaving you free to focus on your business.