Structures / Foundation
Foundation
A trust-like vehicle with its own legal personality.
Hybrid entity available in Mauritius (Foundations Act 2012), used like a trust but structured like a company. The founder endows assets; a council administers them for beneficiaries or a stated purpose. Strong fit for civil-law clients.
At a glance
- Statute
- Foundations Act 2012 (Mauritius)
- Legal personality
- Yes (own legal entity)
- Term
- Indefinite or fixed
- Tax
- Tax treatment depends on residence, source and nature of income. A non-resident foundation is generally taxable in Mauritius on chargeable income attributable to Mauritius-source income. Partial exemptions may be available on qualifying income subject to statutory conditions
- Council
- ≥1 Mauritius-resident member
Used for
- 01
Civil-law family wealth structures
- 02
Succession with corporate-style governance
- 03
Charitable and philanthropic vehicles
- 04
Holding family-business shares
- 05
Combined with operating subsidiaries
- 06
Intellectual property holding
Ongoing obligations
- 01
Founder, charter and regulations
- 02
Council with at least one resident member
- 03
Registered agent (FSC-licensed MC)
- 04
FATCA / CRS classification and reporting
- 05
Beneficial-ownership records
- 06
Annual council meetings
Designed For
Civil-law families
Wealth structures in a company-style framework familiar from Continental traditions.
Philanthropic purposes
Charitable and grant-making foundations with corporate governance.
Holding family shares
Corporate-style governance for family-business shareholding.
Succession vehicles
Multi-generational estate planning with a legal entity.
Key roles
Founder
Founder — endows the foundation with assets and sets the purpose in the charter. May sit on the council and be a beneficiary, subject to charter limits.
Council
Council — administers the foundation's assets and operations. Must include at least one Mauritius-resident member. Fiduciary duties under the Foundations Act.
Beneficiary
Beneficiary — benefits from the foundation's assets or income as designated in the charter. Rights are equitable, not proprietary.
Protector
Protector — optional role that oversees council decisions and ensures the founder's wishes are followed. Common in larger family foundations.
AcuFin as your registered agent and council
FSC-licensed registered agent in Mauritius
Council administration with resident member
Charter drafting, execution and periodic review
FATCA/CRS classification, reporting and regulatory compliance
Council meeting coordination and governance support
Ongoing administration and advisory
Trust vs Foundation at a glance
Legal personality
Trust
No (trustee holds legal title)
Foundation
Yes (separate legal entity)
Governance
Trust
Trustee manages assets with settlor oversight
Foundation
Council governs entity with own legal personality
Registration
Trust
Not registered; details not publicly available
Foundation
Registered with Registrar; FATCA/CRS classification applies
Term
Trust
Up to 99 years (Mauritius)
Foundation
Indefinite or fixed
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