IHC Puts Fount Trust At The Top Of Its Ownership Chain

International Holding Company has confirmed that Fount Trust now sits at the top of its ownership chain, following a restructuring that places the trust above Royal Group. The Abu Dhabi-listed investment company said the change leaves its beneficial ownership, its operations and its strategy untouched.

The disclosure, made Monday, sets out how the group's ownership layers fit together. The chain running up to Royal Group is unchanged. Pal Group of Companies remains the majority shareholder of IHC, and Royal Group remains the majority shareholder of Pal Group. What is new is the layer above: Royal Group now falls under Fount Trust as its ultimate parent.

Royal Group will keep existing and operating within the new framework. IHC said the arrangement results in no change to its ultimate beneficial owner.

Continuity beyond any individual

The company frames the structure as a way to carry ownership across generations rather than tie it to the involvement of any one person. For a business with long investment horizons, that distinction matters. IHC said the setup could support sustained investment, long-term partnerships and the gradual development of capabilities over time, while keeping the interests of different owners aligned.

Nothing about how the company is run changes. IHC will continue to be governed by its Board of Directors and managed by its executive team under the corporate governance framework already in place. It remains subject to the reporting, disclosure and governance requirements that apply to companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

What the chief executive said

"The establishment of Fount Trust provides a framework for long-term stewardship, while Royal Group continues to operate and fulfil its role within the ownership structure," said IHC chief executive Syed Basar Shueb.

Shueb said the new ownership framework is intended to help the company create value across generations while keeping responsibilities and decision-making authority clearly defined. IHC added that the design pairs continuity with flexibility, so that authorised decision-makers can respond as markets and investment opportunities shift.

Taken together, the changes add a holding layer at the summit of the group without disturbing the sequence of control beneath it. Pal Group's position over IHC, and Royal Group's position over Pal Group, are as they were.

A sprawling portfolio

Founded in 1999, IHC has grown into a diversified investment group with more than 1,300 subsidiaries spanning technology, infrastructure, financial services and consumer sectors. Its market capitalisation stands at about $229 billion, or AED 840 billion. The company runs an international investment platform that reaches across multiple industries.

In a 2026 ranking of the region's 100 most valuable companies, IHC placed second.