Company Formation in Mauritius

Mauritius is often described as Africa’s most developed country. Since independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculture-based economy to a high-income diversified economy, based on tourism, textiles, sugar, and financial services.

According to the Financial Services Commission, financial and insurance activities contributed to 11.1% of the country’s GDP in 2018. Over the years, Mauritius is hub for investment into Africa due its strategic location between Asia and Africa, hybrid regulatory framework, ease of doing business, investment protection treaties, non-double taxation treaties, highly qualified and multilingual workforce, political stability, low crime rate coupled with modern infrastructure and connectivity.

Mauritius has number of international banks, legal firms, corporate services, investment funds and private equity funds. Financial products and services include private banking, global business, insurance and reinsurance, limited companies, protected cell companies, trust and foundation, investment banking, global headquarter administration.

Corporate tax rate ranges from 15% to 17% and individual tax rate ranges from 10% to 25%.

The information and communications technology (ICT) sector has contributed to 5.7% of its GDP in 2016

·         Limited by shares

Company limited by shares means a company formed on the principle of having the liability of its shareholders limited to any amount unpaid on the shares respectively held by the shareholder

·         Limited by guarantee

       Company limited by guarantee means a company formed on the principle of having the liability of its members limited by its constitution to such amount as the members may respectively undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up

·         Limited by both shares and guarantee 

        Company limited by shares and by guarantee means a company formed on the principle of having the liability of its members (1) who are shareholders, limited to the amount unpaid, if any, (2) to those who have given guarantee, limited to the amount they have undertake to contribute.

·         Limited Life Company

        Company where constitution limits its life to a period not exceeding 50 years from the date of its incorporation. However, this period may be extended to a maximum of 150 years. Its constitution contains the specific matters as laid down in the law.

·         Dormant Company

        A dormant company is one which has no significant accounting transaction during a certain period of time.

·         Foreign Company 

         A foreign company, must within one month of establishing a place of business in Mauritius, register a branch of the foreign company in Mauritius.