Nexus forms and administers Mauritius foundations — handling establishment, charter drafting, provision of qualified Foundation Council Members and full ongoing administration under the Foundations Act 2012.
A Mauritius foundation is a separate legal entity established by a founder to hold and administer assets for stated purposes. Unlike a trust, the foundation has its own legal personality. It can hold assets in its own name, contract directly, and continue indefinitely beyond the founder’s lifetime.
The foundation’s purpose is set by the founder in the Charter at formation, and managed by a Council that operates within the founder’s stated intent. Foundations can be established for succession and wealth planning, asset protection, charitable or non-charitable purposes, or commercial activities. The same vehicle accommodates a wide range of objectives without changing form.
End-to-end formation of the foundation, coordinating with the ROC, handling all documentation and ensuring the structure is correctly constituted from day one.
We coordinate with qualified legal counsel to draft a charter that precisely reflects the Founder’s objectives, beneficiaries and governance rules, the constitutional document of the foundation.
Nexus provides qualified Foundation Council Members, the governing body that manages the foundation’s affairs and administers its assets, equivalent to a board of directors.
Full ongoing administration including Council resolutions, beneficiary communications, compliance monitoring and all record-keeping requirements under the Foundations Act 2012.
Foundations must keep appropriate books of accounts in Mauritius. Nexus prepares financial statements and manages all reporting obligations for the foundation.
The Foundations Act 2012 creates a flexible vehicle combining the features of a trust with the legal personality of a company, familiar governance for clients from civil law traditions, with the structuring advantages Mauritius provides.
The Founder contributes property or assets to the foundation, equivalent to the settlor’s role in a trust. The Founder defines objectives and beneficiaries in the foundation charter, which governs the structure.
A Council manages the affairs and administers the assets of the foundation, functioning like a board of directors. Nexus provides qualified Council Members as part of its foundation service.
The foundation charter is its constitutional document, setting out purposes, beneficiaries, Council powers and governance rules. Nexus coordinates charter drafting with qualified legal counsel to reflect the Founder’s precise objectives.
Clients from France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the DRC, Côte d’Ivoire and other civil law countries often prefer the foundation, its Council and charter structure maps more naturally onto their legal experience.
The foundation charter specifies precisely how assets are to be managed and distributed on the Founder’s death, providing clear, legally enforceable succession arrangements across multiple jurisdictions.
The foundation can hold investments, property and shareholdings in its own name, providing a clean separation between the Founder’s personal assets and the foundation’s portfolio.
A foundation is an excellent vehicle for structured philanthropy, carrying out charitable objectives with clear governance, accountability and longevity beyond the Founder’s lifetime.
Foundations can be used for commercial purposes alongside trusts, limited partnerships and corporate structures, providing flexibility for complex multi-layer holding arrangements.
Every foundation mandate begins with a conversation. We take time to understand your personal situation, objectives and family context before recommending a structure. The process is straightforward, and Nexus manages it end to end.
We meet to understand your objectives, family situation, asset base and jurisdiction of residence. No commitment required at this stage.
Based on your needs, we recommend the most appropriate trust type and structure, discretionary, purpose, PTC or otherwise, and outline the Nexus role.
We coordinate with qualified legal counsel to draft the trust deed and complete the formation process, including any regulatory requirements.
Once established, Nexus provides trustee services and full ongoing administration, compliance, reporting, beneficiary communication and accounting
Mauritius provides a modern, internationally recognised framework for foundation structures, combining the Foundations Act 2012, an extensive treaty network across Africa and Asia, and the political stability that long-term wealth structures demand.
The Foundations Act 2012 provides a clear and flexible framework drawing from best practice across established foundation jurisdictions, designed specifically for international wealth structuring.
The foundation structure is recognised in both civil and common law jurisdictions, making it a versatile vehicle for clients with assets or interests across multiple legal systems.
Mauritius has an extensive double taxation treaty network, particularly across Africa, making trust structures based here highly efficient for cross-border asset holding.
Mauritius is an internationally recognised financial centre with robust AML/CFT frameworks, giving counterparties, banks and institutions confidence to transact with Mauritius structures.
Common law clients or those preferring the trust structure, Nexus acts as licensed trustee and handles the full lifecycle under the Trusts Act 2001, including discretionary, purpose and charitable trusts.
Considering relocating to Mauritius as part of your wealth structuring plan? Nexus guides individuals and families through the residence and permit process.
Forming a new Mauritius entity? Nexus advises on the right structure, GBC, AC or domestic, and manages the full incorporation and licensing process.
Speak directly with our team about your objectives, family context and the structure you are considering.
Nousrath Bhugeloo is the Executive Chairperson of Nexus Global Financial Services Limited. She has over 20 years of experience in corporate services.
She is a business leader with recognised expertise in advising multinationals, funds, family offices and individual entrepreneurs on their value enhancing strategy and cross border business. Nousrath sits on the board of a number of companies and funds active in Africa. In a previous position, she spearheaded the growth strategy at ABAX, which was acquired by Ocorian in 2018. Pursuing an Africa-focused strategy, she was instrumental in the expansion and growth of the Africa-led business of the firm. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Governance Institute and holds an Executive MBA from Essex Business School. She is an active member of women-in-business networks.
