Sovereign Group acquire PRO Partner Group

10x Industry

Mita Srinivasan
10x Industry
Published:

Sovereign Group acquire PRO Partner Group

FDI inflows in the GCC increased by 12.4 percent to US$27.7 billion in 2020, led by strong increases in inflows into Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE. The new organisation will combine the regional strength of PPG in UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia with the global reach of Sovereign Group to deliver tangible benefits and opportunities to clients and staff of both companies.

Sovereign Group has acquired PRO Partner Group (PPG) to combine the regional strength of PPG in UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia with the global reach of Sovereign Group to deliver tangible benefits and opportunities to clients and staff of both parties.

Following the acquisition, PPG’s staff will remain in their existing offices and will continue to operate under the PPG brand, except in Saudi Arabia where PPG and Sovereign will partner together and co-brand.

PPG provides security, efficiency and local knowledge to international corporations and investors looking to set up within the GCC, while Sovereign offers integrated advice, products and services to internationally mobile businesses and people that have complex needs.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the GCC increased by 12.4 percent to US$27.7 billion in 2020, led by strong increases in inflows into Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, according to the UN’s annual World Investment Report released in June 2021. The upward regional trend is expected to continue as new laws are introduced notably, the UAE’s FDI Decree, permitting 100 percent foreign ownership of onshore companies, and Saudi Arabia’s Private Sector Participation Law, setting out a clear framework for privatisation as Public-Private Partnerships and as global investments pick up.

Sovereign Group CEO, Gerry Kelly, said: “We have been looking to expand our presence in the Middle East and Africa region and to increase our capacity in the corporate client market and I believe we have found a great fit in PPG. As we explored this deal and got to know Jane and the PPG team, it soon became apparent that we were very aligned in our outlooks.”

He added that “in staffing terms, this partnership brings our headcount in the Middle East and Africa to almost 200, making us one of the best-resourced corporate service providers in the region. It also gives our client base access to a platform in Oman and Qatar for the first time. We are very excited by this acquisition and are delighted to welcome PPG staff and clients to the Sovereign Group.”

Jane Ashford, Founder and Chair of PRO Partner Group will remain on the board of PPG, supporting the company to achieve its goals. She added, “This new chapter will further help us protect our clients and provide opportunities for the team to flourish within a global operation.”