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Structuring your investments into Africa Ben Lim, CEO, Intercontinental Trust Ltd Mauritius. Investment into Africa. Investment into Africa – Tax Haven. Using a traditional Tax Haven. African countries known to have high withholding tax rates No Protection from Double Taxation Agreements
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Structuring your investments into AfricaBen Lim, CEO, Intercontinental Trust Ltd Mauritius
Using a traditional Tax Haven • African countries known to have high withholding tax rates • No Protection from Double Taxation Agreements • No Protection against Nationalisation or Confiscation of Assets 4
Why use Mauritius for Africa? • Mauritius is part of Africa • African Union • Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (“COMESA”) • Southern African Development Community (“SADC”) • Indian Ocean Rim – Association for Regional Coorperation (“IOR-ARC”) • Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (“AGOA”) • Excellent Double Taxation Treaties Network • Bilateral Investment Treaties • Convenient Time Zones / Good Air Connectivity • Dual Legal System – English & French
African Investment Funds • Mauritius is the favoured jurisdiction for incorporating African Investment Funds • African Development Bank (“ADB”) recommends Mauritius as an ideal location for the African Funds • Member of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (“IOSCO”) • Over 600 Funds incorporated in Mauritius • Modern legislation covering CIS and Fund Managers/Advisers
Europe • Belgium • Cyprus • Croatia • France • Germany • Italy • Luxembourg • Sweden • UK • Russia* • In Negotiation • Canada** • Czech Republic** • Greece** • Portugal** • Iran** • Burkina Faso** • Algeria** • Yemen** • Ghana** • Saudi Arabia** • Asia • Bangladesh • China • India • Malaysia • Nepal • Pakistan • Singapore • Sri Lanka • Thaïland • Vietnam* • Middle East • Kuwait • Oman • United Arab Emirates • Qatar • Africa • Botswana • Lesotho • Madagascar • Mozambique • Namibia • Rwanda • Senegal • Seychelles • South Africa • Swaziland • Tunisia • Uganda • Zimbabwe • Egypt* • Kenya* • Malawi* • Nigeria* • Zambia* • Caribbean region • Barbados Treaty Network: 36 DTAAs in force * 7 Treaties awaiting signature or ratification ** 10 Treaties being negotiated
Africa Europe • Belgium • Czech Republic • France • Germany • Ireland • Luxembourg • Portugal • Romania • Switzerland • UK • Madagascar • Mozambique • South Africa • Benin* • Botswana* • Burundi* • Cameroon* • Chad* • Comores* • Ghana* • Guinea Republic* • Mauritania* • Rwanda* • Senegal* • Swaziland* • Zimbabwe* Asia Carribean Region • China • India • Korea • Nepal • Pakistan • Singapore • Barbados Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements 20 Fully Operational, 13 *Awaiting Ratification
Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (“IPPA”) • Covers every kind of asset • Includes concessions to search for, cultivate, extract or exploit natural resources • Non-Discrimination • Treatment of Investments. Compensation of losses owing to war / other armed conflict • Expropriation • Right to Compensation • Disputes between Investor and Contracting Party • Provision for International Arbitration after 6 months • Disputes between Contracting Parties • Provision for an Arbitral Tribunal • Retroactive
Corporate Vehicles • Global Business Companies (“GBC”) • Category 1 – Tax Treaty Company (“GBC1”) • Category 2 – Tax Exempt Company (“GBC2”) • Activities • Holding Companies • Investment Funds • Asset Management Companies • Private Trusts • Trading Companies
Set up a Mauritius Company • Incorporation • Two weeks • Regulated by Financial Services Commission • Re-domiciliation (Migration) • Most offshore jurisdiction allow companies to migrate out • Effective way to continue the company to Mauritius • Immediately after re-domiciliation, the company can take advantage of the • DTAAs • Investment Protection Agreements
Tax Residence • A Company is tax resident in Mauritius if it is either: • Incorporated in Mauritius; or • Managed and controlled from Mauritius • Conditions to obtain a Tax Residence Certificate (“TRC”): • Two local directors • Local company secretary • Local auditor • Board meetings chaired from Mauritius • Statutory records kept in Mauritius • Accounting records kept in Mauritius • Principal bank account in Mauritius • TRC country specific and renewed yearly
Tax in Mauritius • No Capital Gains Tax • No Profits on Sale of Shares • Maximum Corporate Tax of 3% (Most companies pay zero tax) • No Withholding Tax on payments from Mauritius • Advance Tax Rulings • Whitelisted by OECD • No Exchange Controls
Intercontinental Trust Ltd • Intercontinental Trust has been in existence for over ten years • Licensed and Regulated by the Financial Services Commission • Principals have been active in this industry for over 15 years • Over 100 staff • Active participation in the legal and regulatory reform process of the financial services sector in Mauritius • Among the leading Trust Companies in Mauritius
Services • Incorporation & Administration of Companies • Fund Formation and Administration • International Tax Planning • Trustee Services • Accountancy Services • Business Process Outsourcing 20
SAS 70 • Intercontinental Trust Ltd and its subsidiaries recently obtained their SAS 70 Type II certificate • Audit Report Unqualified by PricewaterhouseCoopers • One of the first trust companies to have SAS 70 Type II 21