The Mauritius Authorised Company (AC) is a simplified offshore vehicle for businesses conducting all activities outside Mauritius — offering lower compliance costs than a GBC with streamlined FSC registration.
The Authorised Company (AC) was introduced in 2019 as a successor to the Global Business Licence 2 (GBC2). Unlike a GBC, an AC is designed for businesses that conduct all activities outside Mauritius and does not benefit from Mauritius's double tax agreements. It is treated as a non-resident for Mauritius tax purposes and has lower substance and compliance requirements than a GBC.
Marensa Advisory advises on AC formation for clients requiring a cost-efficient offshore vehicle for asset holding, IP ownership, or operational activities outside Africa — where DTA treaty access is not a primary requirement.
Discuss Authorised Company FormationChoosing between an AC and a GBC depends primarily on whether DTA treaty access is needed and the level of acceptable compliance cost.
The AC is the right choice when DTA treaty access is not required and cost efficiency is a priority. Its simplified compliance profile makes it faster and cheaper to maintain than a GBC.
Marensa Advisory advises on AC formation as part of a broader Mauritius structure strategy — often alongside a GBC holding company or FSC-licensed entity.
Start the ConversationNo. An AC is treated as non-resident and cannot claim DTA treaty benefits. For DTA access, a GBC structure is required.
No. An AC is treated as tax non-resident in Mauritius and is not subject to Mauritius income tax on foreign-sourced income.
No. An AC is prohibited from conducting business with Mauritius-resident persons. All activities must be conducted outside Mauritius.
AC formation typically takes 1–2 weeks from submission of complete documentation to the FSC and Registrar of Companies.