Global Business Structures & Financial Licences in Mauritius | Union Financial Services Ltd

Corporate Structures & Licences

Global Business Licence, Authorised Company and Financial Structures in Mauritius

A comprehensive overview of the primary structures, supporting vehicles and regulated financial licences available through Union Financial Services Ltd in Mauritius.

Primary Structures

Primary Corporate Structures

The two main corporate vehicles for international business in Mauritius — each designed for distinct tax, regulatory and operational objectives.

Primary Structure

Global Business Company (GBC)

The Global Business Company is the primary structure for international business in Mauritius. It is a tax-resident entity benefiting from a 15% corporate tax rate with access to partial exemptions and tax treaties. Widely used for investment holding, private equity and cross-border financing.

Key Features

Tax resident in Mauritius
15% corporate tax + partial exemptions
Access to 45+ DTAAs
No capital gains tax
No withholding tax on dividends

Common Uses

Investment holding
Private equity
Cross-border financing
Fund management
Regional headquarters

Alternative Structure

Authorised Company (AC)

The Authorised Company is a non-resident structure designed for international operations conducted outside Mauritius, offering a zero-tax position locally. It provides a cost-effective framework with minimal substance requirements.

Key Features

Non-resident for tax purposes
Zero local tax on foreign income
Simple and cost-effective setup
Minimal substance requirements

Common Uses

Trading operations
International consulting
E-commerce
Holding of foreign assets

Fiduciary Structure

Trust Formation

Mauritius trusts provide a robust framework for wealth preservation and succession planning, offering confidentiality and tax neutrality across a range of trust types.

Discretionary Trusts

Fixed Trusts

Protective Trusts

Purpose Trusts

Charitable Trusts

Supporting Structures

Specialised vehicles that complement primary structures — providing flexibility for fund management, collective investment and alternative investment strategies.

Protected Cell Company (PCC)

A PCC allows the creation of segregated cells within a single legal entity, each with its own assets and liabilities — ideal for multi-class fund structures and insurance captives.

Ring-fenced cell assets and liabilities
Multiple investment strategies under one umbrella
Cost-efficient multi-class structuring

Variable Capital Company (VCC)

The VCC is a flexible corporate structure allowing the creation of sub-funds with variable capital, suited for collective investment and private wealth management.

Sub-fund architecture
Variable share capital
Suitable for open-ended funds

Collective Investment Schemes (CIS)

Mauritius offers a regulated framework for Collective Investment Schemes, including open-ended and closed-ended funds, providing access to institutional and retail investors.

FSC-regulated fund structures
Expert Funds and Professional CIS
Public and private CIS
Reporting funds and feeder structures

Private Equity & Closed-End Funds

Mauritius is a leading jurisdiction for private equity fund structuring, offering a stable legal environment and access to Africa and Asian markets.

Closed-end fund structures
GP/LP structures
Capital call and distribution management
African and emerging market investment platforms

FSC Regulatory Framework

The Five FSC Fund Regimes

Under the FSC framework, Mauritius recognises five fund regimes that apply across both Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) and Private Equity / Closed-End Funds. The investor type — Expert or Sophisticated — acts as the eligibility threshold, not a separate classification.

Retail CIS

A fully regulated scheme for the general public. Largely confined to funds marketed locally in Mauritius. Subject to the highest level of FSC oversight and disclosure requirements.

Professional CIS (PCIS)

Can be structured as either a CIS or a CEF. Open only to sophisticated investors or via private placement. Lighter regulatory requirements than a Retail CIS.

Expert Fund

Can be structured as either a CIS or a CEF. Available to expert investors making a minimum initial investment of USD 100,000, or to sophisticated investors. The most commonly used structure for international private funds in Mauritius.

Specialised CIS

Can be structured as either a CIS or a CEF but is limited to specific asset classes such as real estate, derivatives, or commodities. No statutory investor type requirement — the restriction is on the asset class, not the investor profile.

Special Purpose Fund (SPF)

A lightly regulated, flexible structure designed for a specific investment purpose or project. Used primarily for single-asset investments, co-investment vehicles, and bespoke fund structures. No minimum investor requirement.

The two investor types recognised under Mauritius law — Expert Investor (minimum USD 100,000 initial investment) and Sophisticated Investor — are thresholds that determine eligibility for the above sub-categories, not separate fund classifications in themselves. Both CIS and Private Equity / Closed-End Fund structures are affected by these investor type distinctions.

Financial Licences

Licences such as Investment Dealer, Investment Adviser, Family Office and VASP support regulated financial activities. UFS assists clients in obtaining the appropriate FSC licence.

Family Office Licence

For family offices managing assets and providing investment advice to a single family or related families.

Investment Dealer / Adviser Licences

For entities dealing in securities and providing investment advice. Full dealer, broker-dealer, and adviser categories available.

Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP)

For entities engaged in virtual asset exchange, transfer, custody or issuance activities, regulated under the FSC's VASP framework.

Establish your international structure in Mauritius with confidence.

Contact our team for tailored structuring solutions.