Ascentium Acquires LegalTech Company Clara to Strengthen Middle East Presence

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 by leveraging Clara’s established presence in ADGM and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Clara provides a corporate operating system for businesses looking to operate within UAE financial centres governed by common law, currently managing approximately 2,000 companies in ADGM and DIFC. Clara supports a diverse client base including startups, SMEs, law firms, venture capital firms, investors, and accelerators.

Ascentium is a global business services platform with a team of over 2,500 professionals across 45 cities and 23 markets worldwide, delivering integrated solutions in corporate services, finance and accounting, fund administration, human resources, and fiduciary and trust services.

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.”