The Mauritian Financial Services Commission Issues Draft Peer-To-Peer lending Rules

Following the announcement of the Government on peer-to-peer lending and funding in the 2017-2018 Budget, the Mauritian Financial Services Commission ("Commission") has issued draft rules on 10 November 2017 to regulate the peer-to-peer lending sector – as sector which has grown rapidly in other countries. 

In the region, Kenya and Africa are leading in the peer-to-peer business lending market. According to a study conducted by the University of Cambridge, within Africa, South Africa had the largest number online alternative finance platforms, with $15 million raised in 2015 (The Africa and Middle East Alternative Finance Benchmarking Report, February, 2017). The study found that the lack of bespoke regulatory regimes and specific alternative finance policy developments is affecting the growth of the alternative finance industry in Africa.