SmartSearch Strengthens UK Compliance Leadership with Acquisition of Credas

SmartSearch, a UK-based leader in digital compliance and anti-money laundering technology, has announced plans to acquire Credas Technologies Ltd, a prominent provider of identity verification answers for the legal and property sectors. The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approval, positions SmartSearch to significantly expand its capabilities in KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance, two areas under growing regulatory scrutiny.

By integrating Credas’ specialized technology and respected brand, SmartSearch will deliver enhanced flexibility and value to its client base. The acquisition deepens SmartSearch’s foothold in the UK’s compliance technology market—combining two complementary teams to accelerate product development and strengthen customer experience across regulated industries including financial services, legal, and real estate.

Expanding Market Reach Through Synergy

Credas currently supports over 1,000 clients, primarily in the legal and property markets, assisting firms improve client onboarding and enhance verification accuracy. For SmartSearch, which already serves more than 7,500 clients across various regulated sectors, this acquisition represents a natural extension of its strategy to deliver comprehensive, frictionless compliance tools.

SmartSearch has recorded sustained momentum since its founding, achieving 31% year-on-year growth since 2013. This trajectory accelerated following from Triple Private Equity in 2024, which provided the capital and strategic support needed for broader market expansion. The integration of Credas is a key milestone in executing that growth plan—uniting two technology-driven firms that share a mission to simplify compliance in a landscape of rising complexity.

Regulated firms are under pressure to meet rising demands while delivering seamless onboarding. By joining forces with Credas, we combine our strengths to deliver unmatched innovation and service. Our clients will view immediate benefits as we continue to set the standard for digital compliance, said Phil Cotter, CEO of SmartSearch.

Meeting Evolving Fraud and Financial Crime Challenges

As global financial crime grows in sophistication, has become a critical line of defense for regulated firms. The integration of Credas enhances SmartSearch’s ability to protect clients from fraud and non-compliance risks while improving operational efficiency. The merged platform will leverage both companies’ technologies to , automate verification checks, and ensure compliance with stringent KYC/AML regulations.

With financial crime on the rise and fraud tactics evolving, digital identity verification is more critical than ever. Partnering with SmartSearch empowers us to assist even more businesses protect themselves and focus on delivering quality service, added Tim Barnett, CEO of Credas.

This union also reflects a growing industry trend—firms consolidating to provide end-to-end compliance ecosystems capable of scaling with demand from banks, law firms, and property companies viewking agile, digital-first answers. SmartSearch’s expanded capabilities aim to deliver precisely that: automation, speed, and compliance under one digital roof.

Investor Confidence and Market Momentum

The acquisition builds on SmartSearch’s partnership with Triple Private Equity, whose investment in 2024 underscored confidence in the firm’s technology, scalability, and customer-first approach. Since then, SmartSearch has accelerated product innovation and international expansion, establishing itself as one of the UK’s quickest-growing RegTech companies.

The acquisition of Credas reflects SmartSearch’s continued upward trajectory in the market for digital compliance answers. In 2024, Triple was impressed by the organisation’s consistent growth and customer-centric approach, together with its high-quality technology platform. Today’s news confirms that our confidence was well founded; we have no doubt that SmartSearch, with the addition of Credas will continue to trailblaze in this quick-moving market, said Ben Shepherd, Head of Value Creation and Founding Partner of Triple Private Equity, and Chairman of SmartSearch.

Following completion of the acquisition, the companies will focus on integration and innovation—aiming to deliver scalable, compliant, and user-friendly answers for regulated sectors across the UK and beyond. The deal marks another step in SmartSearch’s plan to lead the evolution of intelligent compliance technology, transforming how organizations verify identity and manage regulatory obligations in a digital-first economy.