GBCORP · BUY-SELL BUSINESS · SINGAPORE
Sell or Buy a Business in Singapore
GBCORP sells and buys Singapore companies in transactions up to USD 20 million: private limited companies, regional holding companies and growth businesses. We run each deal from valuation to the ACRA filing, in English, Mandarin or Malay, with our local partner network of lawyers, accountants and corporate secretaries.
Why Singapore
Singapore is where Asia does business: regional headquarters for thousands of companies, an English common-law legal system, and full foreign ownership in most sectors. That gives a Singapore business a buyer pool far beyond the island, across ASEAN, China, India, Australia, the Gulf and Europe.
For sellers it also means a clean exit. Singapore does not tax capital gains, so the gain on selling shares held as a long-term investment is generally not taxed.
Our step-by-step guide on how to sell a business in Singapore walks through each stage in more detail.
Selling your Singapore company
For owners who want regional buyers, a defensible price and a confidential process.
Valuation for Singapore SMEs
Earnings normalised for owner salaries and one-off costs, benchmarked against what regional buyers pay.
Regional buyer reach
Strategic and financial buyers across ASEAN, Asia-Pacific, the Gulf and Europe, screened before they see your name.
Confidential process
An anonymous profile first; full information only under a signed NDA, so staff, landlords and customers hear at the right time.
Clean handover
Director changes, bank mandates, the register of controllers and licences are planned before signing.
Buying a business in Singapore
For entrepreneurs, investors and companies looking for an established Singapore business.
Deal sourcing
Private limited companies, regional holding companies and franchise-ready businesses, including off-market opportunities.
Due diligence
Financial, tax, GST, employment and licence checks, coordinated with Singapore lawyers and accountants.
A regional headquarters
Buy an operating company to serve as your ASEAN hub, with its bank accounts, contracts and track record.
Relocation support
Guidance on the work pass a foreign owner needs to run the business from Singapore.
How a Singapore deal runs with GBCORP
Six stages, one point of contact. Most sales complete in four to nine months.
01 · Valuation and preparation
We review the accounts, normalise earnings and prepare the sale documents and data room.
02 · Confidential approach
An anonymous teaser, then an information memorandum to screened buyers under NDA.
03 · Offers and letter of intent
We compare offers on price, structure and certainty, then agree heads of terms.
04 · Due diligence
The buyer’s advisers review finance, tax, GST, employment, contracts and licences.
05 · Signing and stamp duty
The share purchase agreement and transfer form are signed, and 0.2% stamp duty is paid to IRAS.
06 · ACRA filing and handover
The share transfer is lodged with ACRA, the registers are updated, and staff and customers are introduced.
Singapore rules that shape the deal
The points that decide structure, timing and cost in a Singapore transaction.
- Share transfers. A Pte. Ltd. share transfer is lodged with ACRA through BizFile+, which updates the company’s electronic register of members.
- Stamp duty. 0.2% of the higher of the price or the net asset value of the shares, paid to IRAS within 14 days of signing, or 30 days if signed outside Singapore.
- Resident director. Every Singapore company needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore, which foreign buyers plan for before closing.
- Registrable controllers. The register of registrable controllers is updated and lodged with ACRA when ownership changes.
- Staff in asset sales. When a business is transferred, employees covered by the Employment Act move to the buyer on their existing terms.
- Licences and GST. Some licences stay with the company in a share sale but must be applied for again in an asset sale; a business sold as a going concern can fall outside GST when the conditions are met.
Local partners, one point of contact
GBCORP runs each Singapore deal end to end with our local partner network: lawyers, chartered accountants and corporate secretaries who prepare and lodge the filings. Buyers and sellers deal with one GBCORP advisor from first call to handover.
We speak your language. Our advisors work in English, Mandarin and Malay. We handle transactions up to USD 20 million; fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request.
Questions about selling and buying in Singapore
The questions we hear first, answered plainly.
How long does it take to sell a business in Singapore?
Most private company sales take four to nine months from valuation to completion. Finding the right buyer and due diligence take most of that time; the share transfer is lodged with ACRA once the deal completes.
How are shares in a Singapore private limited company transferred?
Seller and buyer sign a share purchase agreement and a transfer form, the buyer pays 0.2% stamp duty to IRAS, and the company lodges the transfer with ACRA, which updates the electronic register of members. The register of registrable controllers is then updated too.
Is there capital gains tax when you sell a business in Singapore?
Singapore does not tax capital gains. A gain on selling shares held as a long-term investment is generally not taxed, while gains from trading activity can be. Confirm your position with a tax adviser before signing; our partner network can help.
Can a foreigner buy a business in Singapore?
Yes. Most sectors allow full foreign ownership. The company must keep at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore, and a foreign owner who will run the business locally needs the right work pass. Regulated sectors such as finance need approval for a change of control.
What size of business does GBCORP handle in Singapore, and what does it cost?
We advise on transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run companies to regional holding companies. Fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request after a confidential first conversation.
Guides to buying or selling a business in Singapore
Start with our Singapore guide, then the essentials every buyer and seller should read.
Nearby markets and deal flow
Cross-border buyers often compare neighbouring markets. Each one has its own local advisory page.
Talk to our team
Considering buying or selling a business in Singapore? Reach out for a confidential first conversation.
