Management Company

Definition

A management company (or corporate service provider) is a licensed entity that handles, on behalf of its clients, the day-to-day administration of a company: incorporation, corporate secretarial work, maintenance of registers, coordination with authorities and banks, and compliance procedures. In Mauritius, this role is reserved for entities holding a licence issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the regulator of non-bank financial services.

Framework in Mauritius

The management company licence is issued by the FSC under the Mauritian legislation governing financial activities. It authorises its holder to administer the country's international structures, in particular Global Business Companies (GBC) and Authorised Companies. For an Authorised Company, regulations require the registered agent to be a management company licensed by the FSC; for a GBC, administration is likewise carried out by such a licensed entity. The FSC exercises ongoing oversight of these management companies, which are accountable to it for their clients' files.

In practice

In its day-to-day activity, a management company handles the incorporation of the company, maintenance of the registered office and statutory registers, preparation of governance documents, liaison with the FSC and, depending on the type of structure, with the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), as well as the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) due diligence required by regulation. It may assist the client in meeting the requirements applicable to their structure, subject to eligibility and depending on the specifics of each case, without this constituting any guarantee of outcome, bank account opening, or timeframe. Choosing a management company deserves particular attention: it is advisable to verify that its FSC licence is active, to review the scope of services offered and its experience with the type of structure envisaged, and to ensure that it applies rigorous compliance procedures. A reputable management company will ask detailed questions about the source of funds and the intended activity; this rigour protects the client as much as it meets Mauritian regulatory obligations.

Related terms

The management company acts notably for Global Business Companies (GBC) and Authorised Companies, two forms of Mauritian international company subject to the supervision of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the regulator on which the issuance and oversight of its own licence also depends.

Related terms