What does a fund administrator actually do?

A fund administrator is the independent provider that runs a fund's middle and back office: striking the NAV, keeping the fund's books, producing financial statements, servicing investors through transfer agency, and supporting regulatory and audit requirements. It gives investors an independent, reliable financial picture of the fund.

Do I need a fund administrator to launch a fund in the DIFC?

For most DIFC fund structures, yes — and for externally managed funds it's effectively required, since the manager must appoint a DFSA-licensed fund administrator as its local agent. Spera acts in that capacity, handling the regulatory, register and reporting functions the structure depends on.

Can a foreign fund manager operate in the DIFC without a DFSA licence?

Yes. An external fund manager from an accepted jurisdiction can establish and manage a domestic DIFC fund without holding its own DFSA licence — provided it appoints a DFSA-licensed fund administrator, like Spera, as its local agent. It's a faster, lighter route into DIFC and the wider Gulf than standing up a regulated entity yourself.

What is NAV and how often is it calculated?

NAV — net asset value — is the per-share value of the fund, struck by taking assets less liabilities across every position and currency. Frequency depends on the structure: we run periodic or daily NAV strikes, each through the same audit-trailed cycle with four-eye review before anything reaches an investor.

What fund types and jurisdictions do you support?

We administer alternative structures — hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, real estate, private credit, digital assets, family office vehicles and qualified-investor funds — across 9+ jurisdictions, delivered as a DFSA-regulated Category 4 administrator.

◆ Country spoke · Singapore

Set up a company in Singapore and keep it compliant from one partner.

Singapore is one of the most attractive places in the world to base a regional business — but its reputation for ease can lull newcomers into underestimating the recurring obligations that follow incorporation. We handle both the set-up and the upkeep, so your Singapore entity is launched correctly and stays in good standing.

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Entity type

Private limited company

Registrar

ACRA

Directors required

1 Singapore-resident director

Company secretary

Required within 6 months

Set up a company in Singapore and keep it compliant from one partner.

What the entity needs, and who provides it

Two obligations run in parallel from the day you incorporate. The left column is finished once. The right column never is. Filled markers are work Spera performs on your behalf.

What it takes to incorporate

What it takes to operate

A private limited company registered with ACRA, Singapore's company registry — typically the fastest part of the process once documents are in order.

Corporate tax registration — Singapore's headline rate is competitive, with meaningful exemptions for new and smaller companies in their early years.

At least one locally resident director — a requirement we can satisfy through our resident-director service where you do not yet have a qualifying individual.

GST registration where your turnover crosses the registration threshold, plus periodic GST returns thereafter.

A company secretary appointed within six months of incorporation, and a registered office address in Singapore — both of which we provide.

Employer set-up for payroll, including CPF contributions for eligible employees, and accurate monthly payroll processing.

A minimum of one shareholder and a nominal paid-up capital, with share structure set up to suit your plans.

Annual obligations — the filing of annual returns with ACRA, financial statements, the annual general meeting, and the corporate income tax return.

Singapore becomes a strategic foothold, not an administrative drain

We set up the company, provide the resident director, company secretary and registered office where needed, and then run the recurring accounting, tax, payroll and company-secretarial work — so your Singapore presence is a strategic foothold, not an administrative drain.

Entity setup and registrations

01

Corporate secretarial compliance

02

Global payroll

03

Resident director and registered office

04

Tax rates, thresholds and statutory requirements in Singapore change and vary by activity. Treat the figures above as a starting point — we confirm the current position with you before anything is filed.

A full-spectrum finance and compliance practice

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