Ascentium expands strategic footprint in the Middle East through acquisition of Virtuzone

Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore and backed by Hillhouse Investment, has announced the acquisition of Virtuzone, the UAE's leading and award-winning provider of company formation solutions, corporate services, and tax consultancy. This strategic move signifies Ascentium's entry into the dynamic Middle East markets, leveraging Virtuzone's expertise and local presence to tap into emerging opportunities in the region.

The acquisition of Virtuzone—which includes Virtuzone's sister companies, Taxready.ae, Next Generation Equity and MAKTABI—positions Ascentium to establish a robust foothold in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and extend the potential reach across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. With foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the UAE soaring to USD 30.6 billion in 2023 and the Middle East's GDP growth projected to reach 3.9% in 2025, this acquisition aligns with Ascentium's growth strategy in strategic markets.

Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, remarked, "We are pleased to expand in the GCC through the acquisition of Virtuzone, and we welcome them to the Ascentium group. Their expertise and commitment to excellence will bolster our organisation and drive us towards our strategic goals. Virtuzone's strong presence in the Middle East complements our existing capabilities, and together, we look forward to achieving new milestones and delivering exceptional value to our global clientele."

Neil Petch, Chairman and Co-founder of Virtuzone, commented, "As global leaders in the corporate services industry, Ascentium embodies the core values that Virtuzone has upheld over the years, empowering businesses and delivering customer-centric solutions, transformative innovation, and unrivalled service excellence. By combining their business acumen with our local market leadership and expertise, I believe this new era will bring significantly greater value to our clients, partners and the communities that we serve."

George Hojeige, Group CEO of Virtuzone, shared, "We are excited to join the Ascentium family, where our shared values and vision will drive us towards even greater success. The opportunities ahead for Virtuzone within Ascentium are truly promising, especially in expanding our reach in the Asia-Pacific region. Ascentium's global network and expertise will enrich our service offerings and allow us to deliver tailored solutions to our clients, further solidifying our position as a leader in the corporate solutions sector."

In line with the acquisition, Ascentium will provide additional resources to Virtuzone, enabling the Dubai-based company to expand its suite of corporate services, strengthen its local presence, and serve as a catalyst for Ascentium's expansion into the Middle East.