Obtaining ADGM Category 4 License | FSRA Category 4 Financial Licensing
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is a broadly based recognized and renowned international financial center serving local, regional and international institutions. The ADGM serves in the obtainment of Financial License Categories 4, 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C & 5.
ADGM CATEGORY 4 FINANCIAL LICENSE – ARRANGING CREDIT OR DEALS IN INVESTMENTS / ADVISING ON FINANCIAL PRODUCTS
ADGM Category 4 Authorised Firms in this category can do one or more of Arranging Deals in Investments, Advising on Financial Products, Arranging Custody, Insurance Intermediation, Insurance Management, Operating an Alternative Trading System, Providing Fund Administration, Arranging Credit and Advising on Credit, Operating a Crowdfunding Platform and/or Providing Trust Services (other than as a trustee of an express trust). In Categories 2-4, Authorised Firms may apply to conduct their business in a wholly Sharia Compliant manner or through an Islamic Window.
- Base Capital – US$ 10,000
- Operating a crowdfunding platform while holding client money –$140,000
- Expenditure-based capital requirement of 6/52 of annual operating expenditure (18/52 if will holding or controlling Client Money).
Note that additional capital requirements may be imposed by FSRA on the review of the application.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED APPOINTMENTS FOR AN AUTHORIZED FIRM IN ADGM?
- Directors (at least 2, preferably 3-4) – can be outsourced (NEDs).
- Senior Executive Officer (SEO) – In-house, UAE resident (can be a Director).
- Risk Officer (RO) – can be outsourced.
- Finance Officer (FO) – can be outsourced (can also be an Executive Director/Senior Manager).
- Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) – can be outsourced, UAE resident (can be a CO).
- Compliance Officer (CO) – can be outsourced, UAE resident (can be an MLRO).
HOW CAN WINCORE ASSIST YOU?
- Introduction to the Regulator
- Draft of Regulatory Business Plan (RBP) (Application Forms, Business flow processes & charts)
- Preparation of Financial model for 3 years and draft of ICAAP and IRAP report.
- Preparation of policies and manuals (Compliance, AML, Risk Management, Remuneration, Governance, Conflicts of Interests, Business Continuity Plan etc.)
AUT – CORE: this form must be submitted by all applicants applying for a license to carry out one or more financial services in or from ADGM. It covers information on the applicant, its activities, prospective clients and controllers;
AUT – IND: this form must be submitted by the individuals holding a mandatory function including directors, senior executive officer, finance officer, compliance officer and money laundering reporting officer; and
AUT-AMS: this form must be submitted by applicants applying to conduct financial services relating to arranging credit or deals in investment. The applicant will be required to submit this form as one of the Proposed Activities of ADGM CO includes arranging credits and deals in investment.
- Draft of regulatory application for the company and individuals
- Submission of Regulatory Application (with Policies and appointment of SEO, FO, MLRO, RO, CO)
- Provision of full-time functions
SEO – Senior Executive Officer
FO – Finance Officer
RO – Risk Officer
MLRO – Money Laundering Reporting Officer
CO – Compliance Officer Initiation of the entity incorporation process
- Office lease
- Introduction to the UAE Bank for opening an Account
- Issuance of Regulator’s financial services license
Wincore Advisory Group helps businesses to articulate their objectives and aspirations to set up an Category 4 Financial License ADGM. Contact us at contact@wincoreadvisory.com or +971 4 443 6694.
DIFC and ADGM are the ones granting category 4 license
The required Individuals for a Category 4 Financial License ADGM are the ones carrying out Licensed Functions in an Authorised Firm such as the Senior Executive Officer, the Compliance officer, the Money laundering reporting officer, the Finance Officer, and the risk officer and other main persons who are essential to the business operations (Technology officer, portfolio, or investment managers).
ADGM category 4 License covers the following activities: Arranging Deals in Investments, Advising on Financial Products, Arranging & Advising on credit, Arranging Custody, Arranging or Advising on Money Services, Marketing Financial Services, Insurance Intermediation & Management, Money Transmission, Operating Alternative Trading System, Providing Fund Administration & Trust Services, Operating a Crowd Funding Platform.
USD 10,000 is the base capital requirement for a ADGM category 4 license. Actual capital required to conduct a Category 4 Financial License ADGM activity will depend on the nature, quantum of business and forecasted annual expenditure, as per the financial model of the proposed firm. Based on higher risks associated with the activities, the regulator may place higher entry-level requirements and restrictions on the license itself. Capital waivers may be available to the branch of a regulated financial institution having its head office in a recognized regulatory jurisdiction. The higher of the three components of capital for a category 4 license is set to be the capital requirement: base capital, risk-based capital, and expense-based capital.
Following the introductory call to the regulator, the Regulatory Business Plan (RBP) with 3 years financial projections are submitted to the regulator for review. Subjects to its comments, a full application with its annexes (including processes, policies, structure chart, KYC and AML supportive documentation, Key individuals’ KYC) are submitted for acceptance within 10 business days while the detailed review shall take a minimum of 2 months. During this period, exchanges are made with the applicant. Then after, an In-Principle approval, with the conditions to be fulfilled (such as incorporation, capitalisation, bank account opening, obtention of professional indemnity, rent of an office), is granted by the regulator in case the application is fully accepted. Once the conditions fulfilled, a final submission is made to the DFSA or FSRA for the regulator to issue the Financial Service Permissions under the ADGM category 4 License.