What is an Authorised Company?
The Authorised Company (AC) is a private company used for international business conducted outside Mauritius. The company’s central place of management and control must take place outside of Mauritius. It cannot undertake certain activities such as banking, financial services, carrying out the business of holding or managing or otherwise dealing with a collective investment fund or scheme as a professional functionary and providing trusteeship services by way of business
An Authorised Company is commonly used for international trading, consulting, shipping and private asset holding structures where the commercial activity is entirely offshore.
Because central management and control are exercised outside Mauritius, the company is treated as non-resident for Mauritius tax purposes.
Key Structural Requirements of a Mauritius Authorised Company
An Authorised Company must satisfy the following:
The majority of shares or beneficial interests must be held by persons who are not resident in Mauritius. It is recommended that the majority of directors be resident outside Mauritius and board meetings be convened outside of Mauritius to demonstrate that strategic decisions are not being taken in Mauritius
- Its business must be conducted principally outside Mauritius
- It must appoint a licensed Management Company in Mauritius as its Registered Agent
Permitted and Prohibited Activities of an Authorised Company
An Authorised Company may carry out lawful business activities that are conducted principally outside Mauritius.
It is commonly used for:
- Investment holding
- Property holding (outside Mauritius) subject to applicable regulations in respective jurisdictions
- International trade
- Management and consultancy
- IT services
- Logistics and distribution
- Shipping and ship management
Notwithstanding that it can engage in the following:
- Investing in securities listed on the stock exchange in Mauritius
- Opening and maintaining a bank account with a Mauritius bank in foreign currency but not in Mauritius currency
- Holding any shares or interests in or otherwise dealing or transacting with a corporation holding a Global Business Licence
Where a proposed activity falls within a regulated category, a separate licence under the relevant legislation would be required.
When Should You Use a Mauritius Authorised Company?
A Mauritius Authorised Company is typically used where the business is genuinely international and Mauritius is chosen as a corporate platform rather than as a tax residence.
For example, an entrepreneur operating an international trading business between Asia and Europe may want a stable, well-regulated jurisdiction to incorporate the company, while keeping central management and control in their home country. In that scenario, the Authorised Company allows the business to be structured through Mauritius without making it tax resident there.
An Authorised Company works best when the commercial activity is outside Mauritius, the management is outside Mauritius, and the objective is to use Mauritius as a corporate jurisdiction.
Setting up a Mauritius Authorised Company
To establish an Authorised Company, a private company must first be incorporated in Mauritius through a licensed Management Company. Following incorporation, an application for Authorised Company status is submitted to the Financial Services Commission (FSC).
As part of the Authorised Company requirements, the entity must maintain:
- A registered office in Mauritius; and
- A Registered Agent in Mauritius, which must be an FSC-licensed Management Company.
The Registered Agent is responsible for regulatory compliance, statutory record keeping, filings with the regulators, and coordination of corporate documentation such as resolutions and minutes.
There is no requirement for a statutory audit. However, an Authorised Company must maintain proper accounting records and file an annual financial summary with the FSC within 6 months from the Authorised Company’s elected year end , as well as an annual tax return with the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
At Nexus, we act as Registered Agent and provide end-to-end support for the incorporation and ongoing administration of Authorised Companies. We assess suitability, coordinate regulatory approval with the Financial Services Commission and ensure continued compliance throughout the life of the entity.
If you are considering using Mauritius as part of your international structure, speak to our team before you proceed. The right advice at the structuring stage makes all the difference.