Catalyst advises Alcumus on £47m acquisition

BIRMINGHAM-based advisory firm Catalyst Corporate Finance has advised Alcumus Holdings on the £47m acquisition of Santia Holdings, a provider of integrated health & safety and environment risk management services.

This acquisition, completed within just eight weeks of the buy-out of Alcumus, which Catalyst also advised on, broadens Alcumus’s footprint in the accreditation and certification market.

Equity funding for the acquisition was provided by Inflexion Private Equity and debt by Alcentra.

Alcumus, which has an operation in Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire, is a provider of technology-enabled compliance, certification and verification risk management solutions.

The acquisition of Cardiff-based Santia – for an undisclosed sum – provides Alcumus with a wider, more diversified customer base. The enlarged business will serve more than 30,000 clients both in the UK and internationally, including 35% of the FTSE 100.

Martin Smith, CEO of Alcumus, said “The addition of Santia represents a significant development for Alcumus; the combined Alcumus and Santia business makes us the major player in risk management solutions in the UK.”

Andy Currie, managing partner of Catalyst, said: “We have worked with Alcumus for some time having advised the shareholders on the buy-out earlier in the year and we are continuing to work with them as they seek to grow the business and expand their offering.

“They are a great team and this acquisition marks a significant step forward in achieving their ambitious business plan.”