By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent
SMARTSEARCH has agreed to acquire Credas Technologies, an ID verification provider that serves clients in the legal and property sectors.
The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, marks a key step in SmartSearch’s expansion in the UK’s growing digital compliance market.
UK-based SmartSearch did not disclose the deal’s value, but said Credas’ technology and expertise would broaden its product range and client base. Credas employs 40 staff, while SmartSearch has 200 workers.
Phil Cotter, SmartSearch CEO, said: “Regulated firms are under pressure to meet rising KYC and AML demands while delivering seamless onboarding.
“Our clients will see immediate benefits as we continue to set the standard for digital compliance.”
Tim Barnett, Credas CEO, said: “With financial crime on the rise and fraud tactics evolving, digital identity verification is more critical than ever.
“Partnering with SmartSearch empowers us to help even more businesses protect themselves and focus on delivering quality service.”
Founded in the UK, SmartSearch provides a platform that automates know-your-customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and customer due diligence checks. It serves more than 7,500 clients across the financial, legal, and property sectors and has reported 31% annual growth since 2013. The company received investment from Triple Private Equity in 2024 to support its expansion and technology development.
Credas works with more than 1,000 clients, offering digital identity verification tools designed to simplify onboarding and reduce fraud risk. Its technology helps firms meet compliance standards efficiently while improving customer experience.
Ben Shepherd, chairman of SmartSearch and head of value creation at Triple Private Equity, said the acquisition confirmed the firm’s “upward trajectory” in the digital compliance market.
The deal marks another investment by SmartSearch in ID verification. In June, the company partnered with identity technology firm Daon to deliver AI-powered identity verification through the SmartDoc platform
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