Establishing an Investment Dealer in Mauritius in 2025

1. Why are business established in Mauritius?  

The Republic of Mauritius resents a distinctive blend of political stability, social harmony, and financial advantages, making it an attractive destination for investment firms. As a member of the African Union, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the British Commonwealth, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, among others, Mauritius benefits from a strong international presence and strategic economic alliances. 

The country maintains strong relations with countries from every continent, a fact confirmed by the extensive network of more than 43 double tax treaties and 28 investment promotion and protection agreements. Friendly relations with African states have allowed Mauritian based investors and firms to enter African markets. Furthermore, the political heritage and dependence of Mauritius on western markets has resulted in the creation of substantial ties with the European Union Member States.  

The strategic time zone enables business to be conducted with Africa, Europe, Asia and America on the same day. This is further strengthened by the skilled and well-educated bilingual workforce, speaking both the English and French languages. Mauritius has developed a hybrid legal system based on the English and French laws and has retained the United Kingdom Privy Council as its ultimate court of appeal.  

Additionally, the well-capitalised and sophisticated banking sector facilitates the day-to-day operations of an investment firm with its clients and the transactions with different providers around the globe.  

To this end, Mauritius provides a versatile securities law with an agile approach to different requirements, concluding the licensing procedure in a sufficient timeframe. 

2. Applicable Regulatory Framework for Investment Dealer licensed entities 

Holding an Investment Dealer license in Mauritius necessitates adherence to the Securities Act of 2005, as amended periodically, along with the Securities Licensing Rules of 2007. These regulations are further supplemented by additional rules and guidelines issued by the FSC to govern licenses operating within the securities sector. These regulatory provisions cover various aspects, including but not limited to: 

• accounting and auditing standards, 
• the content and form of financial statements, annual reports and other documents, 
• requirements regarding the offer and issue of securities, 
• the applications for the grant or renewal of a license, 
• the criteria for granting securities licenses, 
• the determination of whether a person is fit and proper for the purposes of the Act. 

In addition, any financial institution is subject to the requirements of the legislative framework developed for the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and corruption. This is comprised of the following acts: 

• the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act (FIAMLA) of 2002, 
• the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2002, and 
• the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002. 

 Please contact us at info@salvusfunds.com if you require more information about investment activities in Mauritius or to discuss your FSC Mauritius licensing needs; we look forward to being of value. 

3. License Categories and Capital Requirements 

An Investment Dealer license provides permission to its holder to establish a trading platform in Mauritius and trade securities and similar products on behalf of clients. As per the table below there are three categories of Investment Dealer licenses that can be issued in the Republic of Mauritius, authorised to conduct different sets of investment activities.

The minimum required capital stated for each Investment Dealer license is directly connected to the nature, scale and complexity of the services prescribed under each category. In each case, the applicant shall maintain the minimum stated unimpaired capital or its equivalent in another currency in order to initiate operations.  

4. What are the licensing requirements? 

There are several requirements for the Investment Dealer license regarding the organisational, compliance and operational aspects of the business, which include:  

• A carefully designed and composed, detailed business plan; 
• Information on the trading platforms to be used; 
• Details on the use of the services of a liquidity provider; 
• The applicant’s client target market; 
• Information on the persons that will comprise the investment dealer team; 
• Compliance with the AML/CFT framework; 
• Policies and procedures to be implemented; 
• Details regarding physical presence in Mauritius. 

5. How can SALVUS support you?

The SALVUS Investment Firms Licensing team takes a tailored approach to each licensing project, recognizing the unique needs and goals of every business. With deep industry expertise, the team carefully assesses business vision and objectives to identify the most suitable license categories, ensuring alignment with long-term growth and success. 

We partner with our clients every step of the way, collaborating to gather essential information and carefully prepare all documentation for a thorough and compliant application. Following regulatory guidelines, we ensure the process is seamless and precise. Moreover, we assist in strategically managing financial resources, combining in-house expertise, outsourced solutions, and trusted third-party providers to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

Please contact us at info@salvusfunds.com, if you require more information about investment activities in Mauritius or to discuss your FSC Mauritius licensing needs; we look forward to being of value.

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The information provided in this article is for general information purposes only. You should always seek professional advice suitable to your needs.