Cim Global Business, Mauritius’ largest fund administrator and provider of corporate and trust structuring and administration services, has opened a representative office in Johannesburg, adding an on-the-ground African capability.

Graham Sheward, Managing Director of Cim Global Business, said: “The opening of our Johannesburg office will bring us closer to our African clients, positioning us to leverage growing flows of investment into Africa.”  

Cim Global Business will be targeting South African private equity, hedge and mutual funds, along with multinational companies, asset and fund managers, including development finance institutions, institutional investors and family offices.

“Mauritius is the leading international financial centre in which to domicile businesses and services aimed at leveraging sub-Saharan African growth,” said Sheward.

Mauritius is Africa’s jurisdiction of choice in assisting multinationals establish pan-African operational, administrative and financial headquarters due to: the island’s globally-recognised business, technology and legislative environment conducive to the optimal management of private equity, hedge and mutual funds in Africa; the absence of foreign exchange controls, allowing a free flow of capital funds without central bank approval; a stable political, economic and social system; qualified local resources and skills at affordable rates, and certainty of law and a sophisticated pro-business financial infrastructure.

For example, Mauritius’ network of Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements across the African continent, provides confidence to investors that their assets are protected

Cim Global Business covers the full range of business services, providing accounting services, tax advice, legal services as well as assisting global business companies and domestic entities to list on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius.

“Our Johannesburg office is fully equipped to help South Africans identify and realize African opportunity,” said Sheward.

Willem van der Berg will be leading Cim Global Business’ African strategy out of Sandton, Johannesburg.

Van den Berg has an impressive track record in global business developed at Geneva Management Group where he headed the Africa desk. 

He has also worked as an International Tax Manager at PWC. Van den Berg has a LLM from Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, and a LLB from the University of Stellenbosch.

Commenting on his appointment, van den Berg said: “I am delighted to be leading Cim Global Business’ team in Johannesburg and look forward to growing our client business on this exciting continent.”

“Cim Global Business strength in structuring the administration of cross border companies in and from Mauritius or Singapore adds an exciting new capability to how South Africans engage with Africa. To this end, Cim Global Business is pro-actively developing new products to leverage African opportunities, like Professional Services Outsourcing Solutions or FATCA/CRS services,” he added.