The Board Chairman's statement

Leny Ilondo

Chairman, Board of Directors
Premier Investment Holdings Limited

"As Chairman of the Board of Premier Investment Holdings Limited (PIHL), I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance and ethical business conduct.

Operating within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), we recognise that sound governance is the foundation of trust, sustainability, and long-term success in the financial services sector.  Our group governance framework has been designed to align fully with the ADGM Companies Regulations and to ensure strict adherence to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) Rulebooks for our regulated subsidiaries.

In addition, PIHL is embedding internationally recognised standards and regionally significant frameworks, and we specifically ensure compliance with and adherence to: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Principles of Corporate Governance, which guide our practices in shareholder rights, equitable treatment, stakeholder engagement, disclosure, and board responsibilities.  African Principles and Guidelines on Corporate Governance under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which inform our approach to accountability, transparency, leadership ethics, and socio-economic development across African markets.  

African Union’s African Corporate Governance Framework, which reinforces our commitment to governance structures that strengthen institutional capacity, promote responsible corporate citizenship, and foster sustainable growth.  Corporate governance provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which shape our cross-border operations, ensuring alignment with Africa-wide commitments to harmonised governance, fair competition, and investment protection.  

By embedding these frameworks into our policies and procedures, we demonstrate that PIHL’s governance is not limited to compliance with local regulation but is also reflective of global and continental best practice.  At both the group and subsidiary levels, our Board of Directors plays a central role in setting strategic direction, overseeing management, and ensuring prudent risk management. We have established clear lines of accountability, supported by independent audit, compliance, and risk functions, to safeguard the integrity of our operations.

Through our committees and governance structures, we conduct rigorous monitoring of financial crime risks, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience.  We maintain continuous engagement with the FSRA and other regulators to ensure alignment with evolving requirements, while promoting transparency and robust disclosure to our clients, investors, and partners.  Our governance philosophy is also firmly embedded within a broader ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) context. We recognise that corporate governance cannot be pursued in isolation but must serve as the foundation for responsible environmental stewardship, inclusive social development, and sustainable economic growth.

By aligning with global ESG standards, PIHL ensures that our business model promotes long-term value creation, resilience in the face of emerging risks, and a positive impact on the communities and markets in which we operate."

Governance at a Glance

Premier Investment Holdings Limited (PIHL) and its subsidiaries within the group are dedicated to upholding international best practices while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Our strong corporate governance is the foundation of our group, and our governance framework reflects our commitment to integrity, accountability, transparency, and sustainable growth. We continuously align our policies and procedures with the latest regulatory requirements, including those of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), and relevant international standards in relation to the businesses of PIHL and its subsidiaries; which includes banking, fund management, advisory and commodities trading.

Documents to download:

PIHL - Article of Association

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors consists of four members who are experienced leaders guiding strategic decision-making and overseeing the long-term growth of PIHL. They contribute expertise in are as such as investment banking, capital markets, energy, and insurance. The Board is responsible for ensuring effective and appropriate governance of PIHL.

Key responsibilities include:
- Defining and approving strategic vision, values, and risk appetite
- Supervising executive management and ensuring effective execution
- Ensuring proper governance, compliance, and internal control systems
- Oversight of investments and corporate performance
- Ensuring independence and effectiveness of Board committees
- Monitoring adherence to corporate governance codes

Meet our board of directors

Board Committees

PIHL is committed to the group’s core principles of transparency, innovation and a focus on generating superior results. The Committees are chaired by an independent member of the Board to ensure strong oversight across all critical governance areas.

To enhance governance effectiveness, the Board has delegated specific responsibilities to its committees:

Audit Risk & Compliance Committee
Oversees financial reporting integrity, the external audit process, and the internal audit function in accordance with ADGM requirements. The Committee also reviews and monitors risk appetite, regulatory compliance, and the effectiveness of the risk management framework across the Group, taking into account the FSRA requirements in respect of the FSRA regulated subsidiaries.

Corporate Governance and Strategy Committee
‍The Committee ensures that the Board of Directors adopts strong corporate governance practices and that appropriate governance structures are in place to support PIHL’s future direction. The Committee also plans, develops and recommends the strategy of PIHL and the Group as a whole to the Board of Directors of PIHL.

Finance Committee
‍The Finance Committee oversees the financial health of PIHL, including budgeting, financial reporting, financial planning, strategy and performance.

Documents to download:

TOR - AUDIT RISK & COMPLIANCE COMMITTEETOR - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGY COMMITTEETOR - FINANCE COMMITTEE

Management Team & Functional Roles

Our senior management team is responsible for day-to-day operations, strategy execution, and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Board, they include:
1. Managing Partner,
2. Senior Finance Manager,
3. Head of Compliance & Anti-Money Laundering Officer,
4. General Counsel.

Risk Management & Internal Controls

We maintain a rigorous risk and control environment, supported by:
- An integrated Risk Management Framework aligned with FSRA and international standards
- Comprehensive auditing by internal and external auditors
- Policies covering AML/CTF, operational risk, market risk, cybersecurity, and data protection
- Regular risk assessments, stress testing, and scenario analysis

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

We recognise our broader responsibility and integrate ESG principles throughout our strategy and we adhere to this by identifying and addressing environmental sustainability, social impact, and governance risks which aligns with international frameworks including UN SDGs, PRI, and ESG best practices and PIHL Reports transparently to stakeholders on governance structures, ESG metrics, and ethical investments.

PIHL is committed to delivering sustainable long-term value in its investment portfolio for the benefit of its investors, clients and its broader community of stakeholders.

Documents to download:

PIHL - ESG Policy

Financial Transparency

While Premier Investment Holdings Limited is a private, unlisted company, we maintain financial integrity through:

- Annual audited financial statements (where applicable)
- Capital adequacy and prudential compliance under FSRA PRU rules
- Accessibility of financial snapshots or summaries to stakeholders, subject to confidentiality.

Documents to download:

PIHL - Data Protection Policy