A private equity-backed German group has expanded into the UK buildings and infrastructure sector with the acquisition of two fire safety and compliance specialists.
CERTANIA, an international testing, inspection and certification group headquartered in Munich, has acquired Clarke Banks and Xact Consultancy and Training as part of its strategy to build a presence in the UK built environment sector.
Founded in Cannock in 2013, Clarke Banks, is a recognised consultancy in fire engineering and building regulations, working with developers, design teams, contractors, and international clients, such as Aston Martin and Savills.
Evesham-based Xact, established in 2004, provides fire safety training, qualifications, and apprenticeships across the UK, supporting regulators, assessors, and designers.
The firms were acquired from Assent Building Compliance and Safety Group for an undisclosed sum, with Assent stating the sale allows it to focus on its core building control business.
CERTANIA is supported by private equity investors, including Greenpeak Partners and Summit Partners, who have been driving its buy-and-build strategy across regulatory, scientific, and compliance services.
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The acquisitions form the foundation of a new platform, with Clarke Banks and Xact joining forces under a new CBX brand to offer end-to-end services, from training and certification to compliance and engineering consultancy.
Karsten Xander, CEO of CERTANIA, said the deals combine “heritage and innovation” and anchors the group’s UK growth strategy.
Sam Wright, co-founder of Clarke Banks, said: “Together, we can accelerate innovation, strengthen our delivery capability, and continue raising standards across the compliance landscape for our clients and the industry as a whole,” he said.
Xact’s service delivery director, Kelly Nock, added that the deal opens a “new chapter” for the firm, allowing it to continue to invest in staff, training programmes, and support infrastructure while driving long-term growth and expanding its service portfolio.
Financial and tax due diligence for the deal was provided by global consulting firm Eight Advisory.
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