A team of professionals setting the direction and moving ahead.
Thank you for taking an interest in our Group.
We are a privately-owned family business based in Mauritius with some activities in the Seychelles and Rodrigues. While, the founding of our more traditional businesses dates back to my great grandfathers’ time over 100 years ago, we create new companies every year as opportunities arise. Our website gives you a comprehensive insight of the strength of our diversity and growth over time.
I often get asked the question, what is your core business, the answer is….we don’t have one!
All our businesses are either No 1 or No 2 in their industry, and are led by competent independent management reporting to a board. The common link between the companies is that the equity is held by Taylor Smith Investment Ltd. To an extent, our business model is one where we consider ourselves to be a type of long term private equity player, whose focus is driven by investing in innovative and sustainable businesses that can grow to become leaders in their sector of activity.
Our values of Respect, Empowerment and Innovation are core to the way we run our businesses. We truly believe that our people drive of our success, and it is only through them that we can achieve our goals. Our ambition is to be recognized as one of the preferred organizations to work for in Mauritius and be in a position to attract the high potential Talent, and provide them with the opportunity to grow with us.
We believe that our growth will also come through partnerships, we seek to partner with people and organisations with whom we share common values.
Taylor Smith Investment is always on the lookout for new opportunities and I will be pleased to hear from you whether you are a large multinational looking for a local partner in Mauritius or an entrepreneur with drive, energy and a good idea.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Colin
Email : colin.taylor@taylorsmith.muA team of professionals setting the direction and moving ahead.
James Smith (1839-1910) arrived in Mauritius from Scotland. He was a shipmaster and a ship chandler, he settled in Mauritius where he found there was plenty of work on ships calling for stores and those damaged by cyclones.
James Smith, David Black (1842-1878) and John Black (1846-1879) established a ship repair yard. The Black & Smith partnership was born
Black & Smith buy LAND in the Caudan area for the development of a marine yard.
David and John Black died of malaria, the partnership is restructured.
Alexander Taylor (1855-1929), ship's officer and marine carpenter arrived in Mauritius. He joined Black & Smith.
A portion of land on Tonnelier Island was leased and Black & Smith's main workshops were transferred from the Caudan.
The premises and workshops were devastated by a cyclone. these were rebuilt on a plot of land North of Quay D.
After the disaster of 1892, the shareholders of Black & Smith were James Smith, Captain Richie and Alexander Taylor.
James Smith retired in 1898 and Captain Richie in 1902. James Smith's two sons: George and Jack, together with Douglas Pearmain, joined the company.
The Black & Smith partnership was officially terminated and renamed Taylor Smith. The four founders were George Smith (1872-1958), Alexander Taylor (1855-1929), Douglas Pearmain (1880-1945) and Jack Smith (1876-1946).
The group specialized in 4 branches:
Taylor Smith became the managers of the Stevenson Dry Dock.
After the death of Alexander Taylor, the management was shared between his 3 sons: George Taylor managed the marine Yard. Percy Taylor managed the stevedoring and Duncan Taylor managed the accounting department with George Smith.
In the 1930's Taylor Smith participated with Rogers & Co and others in the formation of The Colonial Steamship Company.
After World War 2, George Taylor, Duncan Taylor, Percy Taylor and George Smith are still involved in the the management of the Taylor Smith Group. They are joined by the new generation: Dennis Taylor (engineer), Ian Smith (accountant), and James Smith (engineer) they participated in the management.
In 1952 Taylor Smith participated in the formation of the Mauritius Hotels Group again with Rogers & Co.
Derek Taylor, eldest son of Percy Taylor joined the stevedoring section of the business, after having served for 10 years in the merchant navy and obtained a masters certificate.
TAylor Smith Group becomes a shareholder in Rogers & Co. Dennis Taylor and Ian Smith appointed as directors of Rogers.
Tim Taylor returns to Mauritius and joined Rogers & co as economist.
With the retirement of the old generation, the structure of Taylor Smith and the Rogers Group inevitably changed.
George Coombes took over the Management of Taylor Smith & Co.
The stevedoring companies were nationalized and the cargo handling corporation took over all cargo operations.
Derek Taylor became Chief executive of the Rogers Group. Tim Taylor a divisional director together with George Coombes.
Captain Yves Betuel took over the management of Taylor Smith & Co.
After his studies in England, qualifying as an engineer and obtaining an MSC in management, Colin Taylor joined the Rogers Group.
After his studies in hotel management an MBA and work experience in London, Philip Taylor joined the Rogers Group.
When Captain Yves Betuel retired from Taylor Smith & Co. Ltd, Colin Taylor took over as Managing Director.
Derek Taylor retires as CEO and becomes chairman of the Rogers Group until 2001.
Tim Taylor becomes CEO of the Rogers Group, he was subsequently chairman between 2004 and 2012.
Taylor Smith Investment Ltd with Colin Taylor as the CEO is incorporated.
Dominique Vaudin born Taylor obtained in Accounting with French, followed by a Maitrise AES. Later qualified as an ACMA with CIMA in the UK.
After work experience in London and Mauritius, she joined Taylor Smith as a director and presently manages one of the subsidiaries.
Ann Vallet born Taylor, obtained a Cordon Bleu Diploma and B. Tech in Travel and Tourism in London.
After work experience in UK, Europe and Mauritius, she joined Taylor Smith as a Director and is presently Chair Person of the Foundation.
The Rogers group was restructured with the floatation of Cim Financial Services Ltd on the Mauritius stock exchange. Following this, the Taylor Smith Group acquired a majority stake in Cim Financial Services Ltd and disposed of all its Rogers & Co-Shares.
The Taylor Smith Group is now mage up as follows: Elgin Ltd, Kinsgton Asset Management Ltd, Taylor Smith Investment Ltd and Tss Ltd.