Eversheds has advised Alcumus Holding Limited (“Alcumus”) on its £47 million acquisition of Santia Holdings Limited (“Santia”).

Alcumus is the market-leading provider of technology-enabled compliance, certification and verification risk management solutions. It is a specialist in its field and now has a wider, more diversified customer base.

Santia is a leading provider of integrated health and safety and environmental risk management services in the UK. The enlarged business will serve over 30,000 clients both in the UK and internationally, including 35% of the FTSE 100.

This acquisition was completed within just eight weeks of the £92 million secondary buy-out of Alcumus, which Eversheds also advised on, with equity funding for the acquisition provided by Inflexion Private Equity and debt funding provided by Alcentra.

The secondary buy-out of Alcumus was structured with future acquisitions in mind and the legal documentation had been drafted such that additional funds could be drawn down with minimal amendments to ensure a quick delivery.

The Eversheds team on both transactions was led by corporate partner Richard Moulton assisted by banking partner, Nigel Dale, principal associate Richard Kyle and associates Jack Wolton, Lee Harris and Christine Dowdall.

Richard Moulton commented:

“This is a significant deal for all involved. As leaders in the private equity market, it was a pleasure to have advised both Inflexion and Alcumus on the acquisition of Santia. We look forward to assisting them with future mandates.”

Simon Turner, Managing Partner at     , commented:

“We are delighted to support Alcumus in completing this substantial acquisition in such a short timescale. Alcumus is an excellent business, led by an ambitious team, which we are seeking to grow via acquisition. We are pleased to have added Santia to the group; a market leader in its field which expands Alcumus’ market share in this fragmented sector.”

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. Completing this acquisition is a great start to our relationship with Inflexion.”