Fort, a leading independent offshore trust and corporate services provider in Guernsey and Alderney, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of Cogent, a well-established and respected firm in the same sector.

This strategic move reflects Fort’s commitment to thoughtful, sustainable growth and enhances its capabilities to serve a global client base with continuity, expertise, and integrity.

The acquisition has enabled Cogent to achieve is long-term succession planning strategy, with its founders and leadership team coming together with a trusted partner that will preserve the company’s legacy, values, and dedication to client service. The cultural alignment between both organisations played a central role in the decision, ensuring a seamless transition for clients and staff alike.

“This acquisition marks an exciting chapter for our business as we push with our ambitious growth plans,” said Graham McCormack, CEO of Fort. “We are proud to welcome the talented team of Cogent into our family. Together, we are stronger, more agile, and better equipped to provide world-class trust and fiduciary solutions to our global client base.”

The integration will deliver expanded service offerings to new jurisdictions, deeper technical expertise, and increased scale, all while maintaining the director led personalised approach clients of both businesses have come to expect.

Nick Ferris, co-founder of Cogent, added: “Succession planning is a critical milestone for any business, and we are confident that Fort is the right steward for our staff and clients. Their reputation, shared values, and client-first ethos make them the ideal partner to take what we’ve built to the next level.”

The transaction has received all necessary regulatory approvals and is effective immediately. Clients of both firms can expect continuity and a commitment to excellence as integration efforts progress over the coming months.

Left to right: Jos Ensink (Fort), Nick Ferris (Cogent), Graham McCormack (Fort), Paul Backhouse (Cogent)