Investment Funds 2024 Comparisons

Funds can be set up as companies, limited partnerships, protected cell companies (PCCs), trusts or variable capital companies (VCCs). The typical vehicle used to structure a CEF is a company or a limited partnership, whereas a CIS is commonly structured as a company, unit trust or PCC. The new VCC structure now provides an alternative for fund structuring, giving fund managers the opportunity to operate several sub-funds and special purpose vehicles (SPVs, which can include a CIS and a CEF) under an umbrella fund instead of having to set up separate structures.

Companies

Companies may be established as public or private and are incorporated under the Companies Act 2001. Participants are issued with shares of the company. A private company is limited to 50 shareholders and cannot offer shares to the public. Companies have the following features:

• they can be structured as limited life companies and/or limited by shares;
• the liability of a shareholder is limited to the extent of the amount unpaid on their shares;
• a board is subject to the doctrine of fiduciary responsibility;
• a separate legal personality is maintained; and
• statutory rules for filing and reporting ensure transparency and accountability.

Distribution to shareholders is subject to the company remaining solvent, and the company is treated as one taxable unit.

Limited Partnerships

This form of partnership is governed by the Limited Partnerships Act 2011. It can be set up with or without legal personality, and will have at least one general partner and one or more limited partners. The general partner is responsible for the management of the limited partnership and has unlimited liability for the debts and obligations of the partnership. The liability of the limited partner is limited to the maximum amount of its contribution, provided that the limited partner takes no part in the management of the partnership. Where the limited partner does become involved in the management of the partnership, they will be treated as a general partner and be liable for the debts of the partnership. Participants’ interests are referred to as partnership interests.

A private equity fund structured as a partnership would offer the benefits of:

• relative flexibility;
• the mitigation of fiduciary risks;
• the ability to account for profits and losses at limited partner level; and
• tax transparency.

The partnership also offers limited liability to limited partners, but the liability of a general partner is not capped.

Protected Cell Companies

A PCC is subject to the Protected Cell Companies Act 1999 and the Companies Act 2001. Participants in a PCC are issued with “cell shares” in the cell in which they invest. The segregation of assets and liabilities can be achieved by using a PCC.

PCCs are often structured to meet the objectives of investment, such as providing for investor returns from specific cells, distinct separation of non-cellular assets and cellular assets, and restricting liability arising from one cell to that cell only. PCCs have the same advantages as companies, including limited liability for shareholders, a board that has fiduciary duties, separate legal personality and the same statutory rules for filing and reporting.

Trusts

Trusts are created under the Trusts Act 2001, and participants are issued with units therein. A trust established in Mauritius can have up to four trustees, at least one of whom should be a qualified trustee (a person who is authorised as such by the FSC).

Trusts are relatively easy to set up and are flexible vehicles, but do not have legal personality. The creation of a trust does not require any registration or incorporation, but an application to the FSC must be made in order to be authorised as a fund. Trustees are subject to fiduciary duties.

Variable Capital Companies

A VCC is incorporated under the Companies Act 2001 and carries out its activities through sub-funds and SPVs. A VCC needs to be authorised by the FSC as a “VCC Fund”, pursuant to the Variable Capital Companies Act 2022.

A VCC can operate as a standalone investment fund or can be structured as an umbrella fund through its sub-funds and/or its SPVs. The assets and liabilities of one sub-fund or SPV are segregated from those of another and, as such, the liabilities of a sub-fund under an umbrella VCC can only be discharged from its assets and not out of the assets of the other sub-funds or SPVs.

Unlike a PCC, one sub-fund of a VCC Fund can be structured as a CIS, while another sub-fund of the same VCC Fund can be structured as a CEF. Therefore, a VCC Fund can accommodate both open-ended and closed-ended structures under one “umbrella” structure. In addition, the sub-fund or SPV of a VCC Fund may have separate legal personality from that of the VCC Fund (ie, separate name and legal entity), in which case it must be incorporated as a company under the Companies Act 2001. A sub-fund of a VCC Fund can also act as a feeder fund or a master fund. On the other hand, SPVs can only operate as a vehicle ancillary to the VCC or a sub-fund of the VCC, and not as a fund on their own.

A fund in Mauritius is regulated as a CIS or a CEF, and requires fund authorisation from the FSC. AIFs are typically sub-classified as expert funds or professional CISs.

A fund that conducts business principally outside of Mauritius, the majority of whose shares/voting rights/legal or beneficial interests are held by non-citizens, will also be required to apply for a Global Business Licence (GBL). Any corporation holding a GBL must be administered by a management company that is duly licensed by the FSC (Administrator). Such an Administrator must also be appointed as the GBL’s corporation secretary/registered agent, and will be responsible for liaising with the authorities on the setting up and licensing of the entity, and for ensuring ongoing compliance with Mauritius’ laws.

Prior to application, the applicant will need to reserve the proposed names of the entities with the Mauritius Registrar of Companies/Registrar of Limited Partnerships (Registrar) and pay the relevant fee; if approved, the proposed name is valid for two months from the date of notice of reservation of the name.

In relation to the setting up of the fund in Mauritius, the application for registration is lodged with the Registrar, who will then notify the FSC of the application through the FSC One Platform (FSC One). Following receipt of this notification, the application for a GBL and authorisation to operate as a fund (open-ended or closed-end) will be lodged on the FSC One.

The following documents need to be submitted for the registration and licensing of the fund:

• a duly completed application form for the registration/incorporation and licence;
• fund documents:
1. a constitution and the shareholders’ agreement (if adopted) for a company;
2. a limited partnership agreement for a limited partnership;
3. the trust deed for a trust; and
4. the subscription agreement, the investment management agreement and any advisory agreement (drafts of the fund documents may be submitted, but the FSC expects these to be in near final form);
• a draft offering memorandum or prospectus;
• a consent form for initial shareholders and directors or partners;
• know-your-customer documentation on promoters, beneficial owners and proposed directors, general partners or trustees (as applicable);
• certificates and confirmations required by law and the regulators;
• the appropriate government/licensing fees; and
• any additional documents the FSC might require.

The timeframe for the application for a fund authorisation is around 60 business days from the time the application is submitted to the authorities, assuming the application is complete and related queries are cleared on time.

The following fees are payable to the FSC for the licensing process:

• a registration fee for CISs (open-ended) and CEFs (for a single fund) of USD1,000 and an annual fee (payable in advance) of USD3,000;
• a registration fee for CISs (open-ended) and CEFs that are structured as umbrella funds or PCCs and have more than one fund/cell, of USD1,000 for the first fund/cell and USD300 for each additional fund/cell;
• an annual fee of USD3,000 for the first fund/cell and USD600 for each additional fund/cell;
• a registration fee for CISs (open-ended) and CEFs that are structured as VCCs, of USD1,000 for the first sub-fund and USD500 for each additional sub-fund or SPV;
• an annual fee of USD3,000 for the VCC (inclusive of the first sub-fund), then USD1,000 each for the second to fifth sub-funds/SPVs, and USD1,950 for each additional sub-fund or SPV;
• an annual fee of USD5,000 for a fund categorised as a Special Purpose Fund or a REIT; and
• for the GBL, a processing fee of USD500 and an annual fee of USD1,950.

In addition to FSC fees, an incorporation fee of around MUR4,600 (USD107) and an annual fee of around MUR13,000 (USD300) are payable to the Registrar of Companies in the case of a company, and a registration fee of around MUR4,600 (USD107) and an annual fee of around MUR3,600 (USD84) are payable to the Registrar of Limited Partnerships in the case of a limited partnership.

Investors typically seek participation in a structure where their liability is limited. These investments generally take the form of shares in a company limited by shares or partnership interests in a limited partnership. The liability of investors will be limited to the amount they have contractually undertaken to pay to the fund.

To enjoy limited liability, the underlying principle in both structures is for the investor to have a passive participation. Investors risk losing their limited liability status if they participate in the management of the business of the fund. In doing so, they may be viewed as acting as the general partner or a director (depending on the structure) and thus attract the unlimited liability that generally attaches to a general partner, or they may become personally liable as a director.

Legal opinions on the limited liability of investors (and on matters such as due incorporation/registration and the power, capacity and authority of the fund to execute the fund agreements) are typically provided upon request by the shareholders/limited partners.

A fund authorised in Mauritius needs to file an offering document with the FSC. Any update to these documents must also be filed with the FSC. The type of offering document and the relevant disclosure in this document will vary depending on the category of the fund and the target investors.

The disclosure requirements for funds being offered by way of private placement or to sophisticated investors, high net worth investors or expert investors will be reduced. However, the offer document must contain the requisite disclaimers and generally sufficient information to allow investors to make an informed decision on investment in the fund.

Reporting Requirements

Non-retail funds are required to file audited financial statements with the regulator within six months of the balance sheet date, but such accounts do not need to be made public.

The annual financial statements of companies/limited partnerships (other than those holding a GBL) are available for public inspection at the Registrar of Companies/Limited Partnerships (as applicable).

There is a diverse range of investors in Mauritius, including institutional investors, development finance institutions, family offices and financial institutions.

An investment manager licensed by the FSC must:

• be incorporated or registered as a body corporate in Mauritius;
• be engaged principally in the business of managing funds;
• have directors, officers and beneficial owners who meet the fit and proper test;
• have appropriately qualified staff;
• maintain a minimum stated capital of at least MUR1 million (or an equivalent amount in a different currency) at all times;
• have proper insurance cover in place;
• establish and document its rules of internal control to ensure that it is legally compliant and sufficiently supervised;
• have a code of ethics and a code of conduct in place that are binding on its officers, advisers and employees; and
• comply with anti-money laundering laws.

Fund managers are typically set up as companies incorporated under the Companies Act 2001.

An expert fund is only available to:

• an investor making an initial investment on its own account of no less than USD100,000;
• a sophisticated investor (as defined in 2.3.10 Investor Protection Rules); or
• any investor similarly defined in the securities legislation of another country.

A professional CIS is not available to the public but to sophisticated investors, as defined in the Securities Act 2005, or on a private placement basis in the case of an open-ended fund where the minimum subscription amount is at least USD200,000 and for a CEF where the subscription amount is generally more than USD200,000.

To qualify as a professional CIS, the following restrictions apply:

• shares acquired by the participants may not be resold to the public, and the participants are advised of this restriction at the moment of subscription; and
• the fund may not be listed for trading on a securities exchange.

A special purpose fund (which can be open-ended or closed-end) is only permitted to offer its shares by way of private placements to competent investors with significant experience and knowledge of fund investment. It can have a maximum of 50 investors and a minimum subscription of USD100,000 per investor.

There are two main categories of funds: CISs and CEFs. As defined in the Securities Act 2005, a CIS is obliged to redeem a participant’s shares at their request, at a price corresponding to the net asset value (NAV) of those investments (minus fees and commissions). This obligation does not exist for CEFs, which are characterised principally by the fact that the investors do not have control on exiting the fund. A CIS or CEF is set up mainly to invest in portfolios of securities, money market instruments or debt instruments, including loans, debt obligations or similar instruments or other financial assets, real property or non-financial assets, subject to the approval of the FSC.

A fund is required to be managed by an investment manager licensed as a CIS manager by the FSC, or by a foreign investment manager with the approval of the FSC in the case of a fund holding a GBL. A fund that is constituted as a company may be self-managed (ie, managed by its board of directors), with the approval of the FSC.

AIFs are classified as expert funds (which must be open-ended) or professional CISs (which can be either open-ended and closed-end), and are entitled to exemptions from the following detailed regulations that apply to retail funds:

• the requirement to have a prospectus in the prescribed form (the offering memorandum can be customised subject to a few mandatory disclosure requirements);
• the minimum funding requirements;
• investment and borrowing restrictions;
• the requirement to prepare and file management reports and quarterly reports;
• the requirement to conduct daily valuations; and
• the requirement to publish the prices of interests in the CIS on a weekly basis.

To qualify for categorisation as a professional CIS, the restrictions set out under 2.2.3 Restrictions on Investors would apply.

Non-local service providers cannot provide services as administrators, custodians, director services providers, etc, in Mauritius by way of business. They will need to set up either a branch or a subsidiary in Mauritius, which will need to apply for a licence from the FSC in order to conduct business in Mauritius.

Where there is no business establishment in Mauritius and the service provider does not solicit Mauritius retail investors in respect of services related to the marketing of securities, there will be no prohibition on the service provider dealing with such persons, and usually no licensing requirement will be triggered for such non-local service provider. However, depending on the services being provided and the categorisation of the fund granted by the FSC, the fund may be limited to local service providers or may require the approval of the FSC prior to the appointment of a non-local service provider.

Prior FSC approval is required to appoint a foreign manager to manage a fund authorised in Mauritius, although this option is only available where the fund holds a GBL.

The FSC will assess whether the licence of the foreign investment manager is issued by a regulatory body in a jurisdiction that has comparable regulation to Mauritius for investor protection. In support of the application for prior approval, a draft of an investment management agreement between the fund and foreign investment manager and evidence of the licensed status of the manager need to be submitted to the FSC, alongside details of the management team's appropriate competence and relevant fund management experience.

The timeframe for the application for a fund authorisation is around 60 business days from the time the application is submitted to the authorities, assuming the application is complete and related queries are cleared on time.

The production and offering of marketing materials are regulated by the Securities Act 2005 and the regulations and rules thereunder, and by the FSC's Guidelines for Advertising and Marketing of Financial Products 2014. These Guidelines regulate the conduct of the marketing and the content of advertisements and marketing materials, and require certain specific disclosures and disclaimers on the product and the persons promoting them.

The regulatory framework does not provide specific rules on the pre-marketing of alternative funds; however, any fund-related document provided to investors should clearly disclose the status of such document (for instance, if it is still in draft form) as well as the regulatory statuses of the person marketing the document, of the fund and of the manager. Investors must be expressly informed of the above and should be warned to only rely on the final constitutive documents of the fund when making any investment decision.

The production and offering of marketing materials are regulated by the Securities Act 2005 and the regulations and rules thereunder, and by the FSC's Guidelines for Advertising and Marketing of Financial Products 2014.

The law limits any solicitation to invite or induce a retail investor in Mauritius to buy, sell or exchange securities to be done solely by licensed persons. The following activities may be carried out only by locally licensed intermediaries:

• seeking to meet a retail investor at their place of residence or work, or in public places;
• contacting a retail investor by telephone, letter, circular, the internet or other electronic means or telecommunication system; or
• publishing or causing an advertisement to be published or circulated by a person to induce another person to buy, sell or exchange securities or to participate in transactions involving securities, or offering such a person services, recommendations or advice for those purposes.

These Guidelines regulate the conduct of the marketing and the content of advertisements and marketing materials, and require certain specific disclosures and disclaimers on the product and the persons promoting them.

All marketing materials need to be submitted to the FSC prior to dissemination.

Shares or interests in funds that are authorised as professional CISs or expert funds can only be offered to specific types of investors, as described in 2.2.3 Restrictions on Investors.

All marketing materials need to be submitted to the FSC prior to dissemination.

A professional CIS (open-ended or closed-ended) must notify the FSC 15 days before the offering is made, and simultaneously file a copy of the offering document prepared for the purpose of the offering. Moreover, a professional CIS (open-ended or closed-ended) is required to inform the FSC of the conclusion of an offering, indicating the total amount and value of shares sold.

There are no prescribed ongoing requirements for firms that have marketed an alternative fund other than contractual obligations they have entered into and the general licensing obligations specifically applicable to them by virtue of the capacity under which they have marketed the fund.

There are specific categorisations of funds that are targeted only to specific investors and thus enjoy exemption from the regulations on the grounds that they are only offered to sophisticated, institutional or high net worth investors.

“Expert funds” can only be offered to expert investors (ie, an investor that makes an initial investment for its own account of no less than USD100,000) or sophisticated investors, as defined in the Securities Act 2005 (or any investor similarly defined in the securities legislation of another country).

Under the Securities Act 2005, sophisticated investors include the following:

• the government of Mauritius;
• a statutory authority or an agency established by an enactment for a public purpose;
• a company whose shares are wholly owned by the government of Mauritius, a statutory authority or an agency established by an enactment for a public purpose;
• the government of a foreign country, or an agency of that government;
• a bank (licensed by the Bank of Mauritius);
• a CIS;
• a fund manager (licensed by the FSC);
• a pension fund or its management company;
• a CEF;
• an insurer (licensed by the FSC);
• an investment adviser (licensed by the FSC);
• an investment dealer (licensed by the FSC);
• an investor that warrants, at the time of entering into a securities transaction, that:
1. its ordinary business or professional activity includes entering into securities transactions, whether as principal or agent;
2. for a natural person, the individual net worth or joint net worth with a spouse exceeds USD1 million or its equivalent in another currency; or
3. it is an institution with a minimum amount of assets under discretionary management of USD5 million or its equivalent in another currency; and
• a person declared by the FSC to be a sophisticated investor.

A professional CIS cannot be offered to the public and is only available to a sophisticated investor, as defined in the Securities Act 2005, or as a private placement in the case of an open-ended fund where the minimum subscription amount is at least USD200,000 and for a CEF where the subscription amount is generally more than USD200,000.

Investors are not protected by any statutory compensation arrangements in Mauritius in the event of the fund's failure, and it is mandatory for the offer document to include such disclosures along with other disclosures specific to the type of fund as required by the FSC.

The FSC is mandated under the Financial Services Act 2007 to, inter alia, ensure the orderly administration of financial services and global business activities, and to ensure the sound conduct of business in the financial services sector and in the global business sector. To achieve its objectives, the FSC elaborates policies that aim to ensure the fairness, efficiency, transparency and stability of the financial system in Mauritius. It also publishes monthly newsletters, FAQs and circular letters to provide regular updates and guidance. The regulator’s online portal contains general information, up-to-date legislation and regulations, and statistics on licensed entities operating in Mauritius.

The FSC conducts investigations and imposes sanctions (including the revocation or suspension of licences) where it has reasonable cause to believe that a licensee is committing or has committed a breach of the relevant laws, or is carrying or has carried on an activity that may cause prejudice to the soundness, integrity and stability of the financial system of Mauritius or to the reputation of Mauritius.

Where additional information or clarifications are required by the FSC with respect to fund applications, the FSC will usually raise such queries with the administrators via email. It is also possible to request face-to-face meetings with the FSC.

Retail funds can be set up as companies, limited partnerships, PCCs, trusts or VCCs, as described in 2.1.1 Fund Structures.

A fund in Mauritius is regulated as a CIS or a CEF, and a fund authorisation is required from the FSC.

A retail fund conducting business principally outside of Mauritius, the majority of whose shares/voting rights/legal or beneficial interests are held by non-citizens, will also be required to apply for a GBL.

The process for setting up retail funds would entail making a similar name reservation and formal application to the authorities as described in 2.1.2 Common Process for Setting Up Investment Funds, and the same timeframe and fees would apply.

The liability of investors participating in structures such as companies limited by shares or limited partnerships will be limited to the amount they have contractually undertaken to pay to the fund, so long as their participation remains passive, as detailed in 2.1.3 Limited Liability.

A fund authorised in Mauritius needs to file an offering document with the FSC. The type of offering document and the relevant disclosure in this document will vary depending on the category of the fund and the target investors.

The offering document should contain all the necessary information on the securities to be offered and the fund to enable investors to make an informed assessment of the investment.

A prospectus is required for funds targeting the public or retail investors, and needs to comply with the prescribed disclosure requirements, including the matters required by the Mauritius Securities Act 2005 (the Act) and the rules and regulations made thereunder, such as:

• investment objectives and restrictions;
• the details and functions of the investment manager;
• events concerning the termination of a manager’s appointment;
• the types of investors targeted and recommended lock-in periods;
• the terms of subscription (including minimum initial or subsequent investment, distribution rights, entry or exit fees, method/procedure of subscription or redemption, method and frequency of NAV calculations); and
• any fees or charges to be attributed to the fund.

Reporting Requirements

Collective investment scheme (retail fund)

An open-ended retail fund must file audited financial statements and an annual management report with the regulator, containing matters prescribed by the fund regulations. The audited financial statements should be made public unless the fund holds a GBL.

Closed-end fund (retail fund)

A closed-end retail fund must file with the regulator and make public the following:

• comparative quarterly financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, no later than 45 days after the end of each quarter; and
• an annual report, including audited comparative financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and audited as per International Standards on Auditing (or such other permitted standards), no later than 90 days after the fund’s balance sheet date.

The quarterly reports and annual reports of closed-end retail funds (other than those funds that hold a GBL) must also be made public.

In the case of a public offering, the retail fund must register itself as a reporting issuer and is subject to an additional disclosure requirement (to the FSC). Reporting issuers must notify the FSC of any material changes to their affairs.

REITs

A REIT must file with the regulator and distribute to participants the following:

• a half-yearly report (including financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS), no later than 45 days from its interim period; and
• an annual report, including audited comparative financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and audited in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (or such other permitted standards), no later than six months from its balance sheet date.

There is a diverse range of investors for retail funds, from individuals and corporates to institutional investors, development finance institutions, family offices and financial institutions.

Fund managers are typically set up as companies incorporated under the Companies Act 2001. Please see 2.2.2 Legal Structures Used by Fund Managers.

CISs and CEFs that are retail funds have no limitation on the type of investor or minimum investment by investors, but the prospectus can set out specific eligibility criteria for investors or any minimum investment.

There are two main categories of funds: CISs and CEFs.

A CIS has a number of restrictions on its investment and practices, which may be lifted with the approval of the FSC if it is satisfied that the fund has justification, and provided that the fund makes adequate disclosure in its prospectus as to investment rules and risks. For instance, without the FSC’s approval, a CIS cannot:

• invest more than 5% of its net assets in the security of the issuer, unless it is a debt security issued by the government of Mauritius or the government of any other country;
• purchase and hold more than 10% of a class of securities of that issuer;
• purchase real estate;
• purchase a mortgage;
• purchase a security for the purpose of exercising control or management over the issuer of that security;
• have more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid assets;
• purchase or sell derivatives or physical commodities, except within limits established by the FSC;
• subscribe to securities offered by a company in formation;
• lend money, securities or other assets;
• invest in aggregate more than 10% of its NAV in shares of another CIS;
• acquire more than 10% of the shares of any single CIS; nor
• purchase a security nor sell a security to the investment manager, the custodian, an officer of the investment manager or the custodian or any affiliate of such persons, unless the purchase or sale is carried out at arm’s length.

It should also be noted that a CIS can only borrow money or create a charge over its assets when:

• the transaction is only a temporary measure to accommodate a request for the redemption of securities of that fund, and the outstanding amount of all borrowings does not exceed 5% of the fund; or
• the charge secures a claim for fees and expenses incurred for services rendered while redeeming those securities.

The investment and borrowing restrictions do not apply to CEFs.

Through its guidelines, the FSC has announced that investments in digital assets and cryptocurrency may not be suitable for retail investors, due to the high-risk nature of such asset class; however, digital assets including cryptocurrency may constitute an asset class for investment by funds that are authorised as expert funds, professional CISs or specialised CISs.

The FSC has issued the Securities (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Rules 2021, which provide a specific regime for licensing and regulating REITs. A REIT is a CIS or CEF that invests primarily in real estate assets with the aim of providing returns to holders derived from the rental income of the real estate asset.

The position is the same as described in 2.3.2 Requirements for Non-local Service Providers.

The position is the same as described in 2.3.3 Local Regulatory Requirements for Non-local Managers.

Where a retail fund holds a GBL, it will be able to appoint a foreign manager subject to the prior approval of the FSC. The FSC will consider whether the licence of the foreign investment manager is issued by a regulatory body in a jurisdiction that has comparable regulation to Mauritius for investor protection.

The timeframe for the application of a fund authorisation is generally around 60 business days from the time the application is submitted to the authorities, assuming the application is complete and related queries are cleared on time. However, the application for a retail fund may be lengthier.

Please see 2.3.5 Rules Concerning Pre-marketing of Alternative Funds.

In addition, for a retail CEF, unless the prospectus has been approved by the FSC, no application form should accompany the prospectus, no offer for subscription should be entertained and only indications of interest without a firm commitment may be entertained.

The production and offering of marketing materials are governed by the Securities Act 2005, the rules and regulations made under it and the Guidelines for Advertising and Marketing of Financial Products 2014, as detailed in 2.3.6 Rules Concerning Marketing of Alternative Funds.

In addition, a retail CIS cannot issue, use or cause to be issued or used, for any purpose, any advertisement in connection with a CIS, unless a copy is forwarded to the FSC no later than five working days prior to the issue or use.

Once authorised, there are no restrictions on the categories of persons to whom retail funds can be marketed, which will follow any eligibility criteria set out in the fund’s offer document.

A retail CIS cannot issue, use or cause to be issued or used, for any purpose, any advertisement in connection with the CIS, unless a copy of the advertisement is forwarded to the FSC no later than five working days prior to the issue or use.

All marketing materials need to be submitted to the FSC prior to dissemination.

Where any significant change occurs or any new information arises that should be stated in the offer document of a CIS after it has been filed with the FSC, the offer document may be amended by inserting an addendum and notifying the FSC by filing a copy of the addendum therewith. Investors should also be informed of the significant change.

Since retail funds target the public, extensive disclosure is required in the prospectus of such funds in order for potential investors to understand the investment and risks. Retail funds need to comply with a list of prescribed disclosure requirements, including the matters required by the Mauritius Securities Act 2005 and the rules and regulations made thereunder, such as:

• investment objectives and restrictions;
• the details and functions of the investment manager;
• events concerning the termination of a manager’s appointment;
• the types of investors targeted and recommended lock-in periods,
• the terms of subscription;
• an explanation of the nature of the risks; and
• any fees or charges to be attributed to the fund.

In addition, the prospectus should specify the type of investors for whom investment in the fund is suitable.

The fund manager must also send an account statement to each investor with full information regarding investment, to ensure the investor is fully aware of the overall investment.

The approach of the regulator is as provided in 2.3.11 Approach of the Regulator.