SmartSearch announced yesterday, January 7, that it has completed the acquisition of Credas Technologies Ltd. The Ilkley-based digital compliance specialist said that the combined business will deliver enhanced flexibility and innovation. More than that, it will help regulated companies across sectors like legal, financial services, property, accountancy, and insurance to manage risk and meet evolving AML and KYC requirements.
The company’s announcement pointed out that by uniting Credas’ cutting-edge technology and trusted brand with SmartSearch’s proven reputation and best-in-class platform, the combined business will offer increased capability, flexibility, and innovation.
SmartSearch’s CEO, Phil Cotter, commented on the move, saying that the acquisition enables his company to streamline onboarding and monitoring for regulated companies. It also combines complementary technologies of the two firms, allowing them to deliver greater efficiency and speed up product development.
Meanwhile, Credas’ Chief Executive Officer, Tim Barnett, said that financial crime is on the rise, and as a result, digital identity verifications have become more critical than ever. By joining up with SmartSearch, he said that more businesses will be able to protect themselves and maintain compliance at the same time.
SmartSearch Continues Growth Trajectory With Investor Backing And New Acquisition
SmartSearch currently supports more than 7,500 customers in the UK. It provides automated sanctions, UBO, PEP, as well as adverse media screening. The combined business will serve over 8,500 regulated companies, and also help SmartSearch to continue its growth trajectory.
Beyond that, the acquisition also highlights the strong backing of SmartSearch’s investors, Triple Private Equity, and confirms the successful execution of the firm’s growth strategy up to this point.
Thanks to the backing of these investments, SmartSearch managed to develop one of the most comprehensive digital compliance platforms in the country. On top of that, it was also named the 2025 Long-Term Growth Champion by both the Financial Times and Statista.
Commenting on the acquisition, Triple Private Equity’s Head of Value Creation and Founding Partner, Ben Shepherd, said that the acquisition of Credas reflects SmartSearche’s continued upward trajectory in the market for digital compliance solutions.
He also added that Triple has no doubt that SmartSearch, with the addition of Credas, will continue to “trailblaze in this fast-moving market.”
