Singapore/UAE
Singapore’s Ascentium acquires Clara to expand footprint in UAE: Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore, has acquired Clara, the largest licensed corporate service provider (CSP) in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This acquisition significantly expands Ascentium’s footprint in the Middle East via Clara’s established presence in ADGM and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Clara is a critical partner for businesses looking to operate within the UAE’s premier common law financial centres. Clara supports a diverse client base from startups and SMEs to law firms, venture capitalists, investors, accelerators and government-related entities. It is recognised for its regulatory expertise and reliable delivery across incorporation, governance and ongoing compliance, all backed by its state-of-the-art software application.
The acquisition supports Ascentium’s plans to expand into key strategic jurisdictions by partnering with established, regulated, values-aligned businesses with strong client propositions. By joining Ascentium, Clara gains access to a global platform, enhanced service capabilities and investment capacity, empowering clients to scale internationally while continuing to uphold the highest regulatory standards in ADGM and DIFC.
Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, commented: “ADGM is an important addition to Ascentium’s global platform, and Clara is the market leader. Their regulatory standing, trusted client relationships and leading technological operating system make them an ideal addition to Ascentium as we continue to expand across the Middle East.”
Kathryn Burke, Managing Director of Clara, said, “Ascentium has built a platform where people lead and technology enables. By joining Ascentium and aligning with this shared value, we can combine human insight with the power of innovation to help clients navigate increasingly complex, cross-border regulatory environments with confidence, while giving Clara the scale and reach to take our expertise to the next level.”
