Hawksford acquires two international businesses

Hawksford

04 July 2022 |

Insights

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of two new businesses – Pearse Trust and Griffon Solutions. More details of these acquisitions, which form part of our ambitious growth strategy, can be found in the full press release below.

Hawksford launches ambitious expansion strategy with the acquisition of two international corporate service providers

The acquisitions, collectively adding more than 60 years of international industry experience, see Hawksford increase its geographical footprint and services, moving into Mauritius and the Republic of Ireland for the first time.

The deals also mark an important first step in a series of planned acquisitions with the backing of STAR Capital, driving further growth in new and existing markets.

Pearse Trust is a privately-owned company considered an authority in the corporate and trust structuring space, serving an international client base of banks, accounting and legal firms, and public and private sector organisations.

Above Michel van Leeuwen, Hawksford and Joseph Hickey, Pearse Trust

Founded in Dublin in the 1980s, the business holds offices in Dublin, Belfast, London, Vancouver and Wellington, as well as an associated office in Mexico City, strengthening Hawksford’s operational ability in the EU and the Americas.

Griffon Solutions is a privately-owned, Mauritius-based company with more than 25 years of experience supporting international corporations, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals. The team has substantial cross-sector expertise in, among others, renewable energy, intellectual property, agriculture, real estate, trading, mining and corporate finance.

Above Michel van Leeuwen, Hawksford and Richard Charrington, Griffon Solutions

Michel van Leeuwen, Group Chief Executive for Hawksford, said:

“This is a significant milestone for Hawksford and represents the next step in our exciting growth journey. We are listening to our clients – expanding into jurisdictions and service lines where our clients need us to.

"We are seeing both Ireland and Africa rapidly becoming major growth markets and are pleased to have secured local expertise with longstanding heritage and commitment within their respective markets. We look forward to joining up our capabilities and continuing to expand our service offering to our clients globally."

Griffon Solutions and Pearse Trust will retain their teams as part of the transition to Hawksford, with no change of service to either company or existing clients. The leadership in both markets will remain in situ, with Joseph Hickey, Founder of Pearse Trust, and Grainne Riordan, Managing Director, leading the Irish operations; and Richard Charrington, Managing Director of Griffon Solutions, leading the business in Mauritius.

Joseph Hickey, Founder of Pearse Trust, commented:

“This is a pivotal step for Pearse Trust. We are eager to provide our clients with new opportunities and access to a broader range of services through the Hawksford group.

“We will continue to provide our clients with the high standard of service they expect from us, and we are excited about our future as part of the Hawksford family.”

Richard Charrington, Managing Director of Griffon Solutions, added:

“The partnership presents a great opportunity for our clients to access a broader international offering, and for our people to become part of the Hawksford global family.

“While we will continue to service and expand our existing client base, we are excited to see how we can add value to Hawksford and its clients, welcoming the opportunity to provide expert advice in managing the risks and complexities of businesses expanding into Africa.”