Napier AI has announced a substantial £45m investment from Crestline Investors, a US-based, credit-focused institutional alternative asset manager.
This significant funding marks a transformative period in the financial crime compliance sector, particularly in areas such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions.
Founded in 2015, Napier AI has emerged as a key player in the provision of AI-enhanced financial crime and regulation technology compliance software. The company offers cutting-edge AML solutions across banking, payments, and wealth & asset management industries. Its software enables customers to effectively screen, monitor, and identify criminal or suspicious activities, significantly reducing financial, reputational, and regulatory risks, as well as operational overheads.
Operating in a sector with strong tailwinds driven by an increasing need for regulatory and compliance solutions, Napier AI has demonstrated robust top-line growth. Historically, the company has achieved over 30% year-on-year revenue growth since 2021, thanks to strategic investments in its go-to-market organisation and product development through dedicated research and development efforts.
The investment from Crestline is set to propel Napier AI’s business expansion over the coming years. The funding will enable the company to further develop and deliver next-generation screening and monitoring solutions to financial institutions. These solutions will be powered by explainable AI technology, offering significant value to clients navigating the complex landscape of financial crime compliance.
“We are pleased to deliver strong, continuous growth in a challenging market. Financial crime compliance operations and regulatory pressure continue to be large overheads for financial institutions, so there is a need to invest in NextGen AI-enhanced solutions with the benefit of trusted technology and delivery,” Greg Watson, CEO at Napier AI, expressed his optimism regarding the investment.
Echoing this sentiment, Will Palmer, Managing Director at Crestline, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership, “We are excited to work with the Napier AI team and believe their market-leading, AI-powered technology platform is well-positioned to help financial institutions and other regulated companies excel in an environment with rapidly expanding transaction volumes and increasing regulatory requirements.”
This investment follows Napier AI’s consistent effort to bolster its product line and market position without significant institutional capital or a traditional private equity sponsor, demonstrating the company’s innovative approach and the industry’s recognition of its potential.
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