Corporate Research and Investigations

What Corporate Research and Investigations does

Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group) is a London-headquartered, privately held global risk management and compliance firm founded in 1990 that serves enterprise clients across nine verticals — finance and professional services, pharmaceutical and healthcare, insurance, oil/gas and energy, IT and telecommunications, property, aviation, automotive, and food and beverage — with operating entities in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), a 2025 office in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), and an Islamabad presence, delivering services across 80+ countries.

The company's core technology platform combines a network of 50+ full-time multilingual analysts (including Certified Fraud Examiners and forensic accountants) with four proprietary productized brands: EmploySmart™ (BS 7858-certified pre-employment background screening integrated with 70+ ATS platforms), DueDiligence360™ (tiered integrity due diligence methodology covering M&A, partnerships, and vendor selection), 3PRM™ (end-to-end third-party risk management), and the ABAC® Center of Excellence (ISO 37001/37301/31000 certification and training). The technology stack is differentiated less by AI/ML and more by process IP, regulatory credentials (ISO 27001:2013, BS 7858:2019 — the only such provider in the UAE and Middle East — BS 102000:2018, GDPR, and PBSA accreditation), and a 35-year operational footprint.

CRI Group's business model is B2B professional services with four revenue streams: recurring background screening subscriptions and per-check pricing via EmploySmart, project-based due diligence and fraud investigation engagements scoped per case, managed third-party risk advisory with annual retainers or per-assessment pricing under 3PRM, and ISO certification and training fees through the ABAC Center of Excellence. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through the global office network, supported by industry event participation (PBSA, SHRM, ACFE), content marketing, and referrals from consulting and law firm partners; all pricing is custom-quoted per engagement with no public rate card.

Name

Corporate Research and Investigations

Legal name

Corporate Research and Investigations Limited

Website

https://crigroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CRI Group is a London-headquartered global risk management and compliance firm offering background screening, due diligence, third-party risk management, fraud investigations, and ISO certification services to enterprise clients across 80+ countries and nine industry verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Background Screening Services: Recurring and project-based pre-employment and ongoing employee background screening services delivered via the EmploySmart™ platform and portal. Revenue generated through per-check pricing, subscription access to the platform, and managed service arrangements with enterprise HR and recruitment departments. Services include identity verification, criminal checks, employment/education verification, credit checks, sanctions screening, and BS7858 vetting.
2. Due Diligence & Investigative Services: Project-based corporate accountability and investigative service fees for integrity due diligence (DueDiligence360™), fraud risk investigations, insurance fraud investigations, IP infringement investigations, internal investigations, forensic accounting, and commercial investigations. Revenue is earned on a per-engagement basis with scope ranging from basic to enhanced multi-jurisdictional investigations.
3. ISO Certification & Training (ABAC®): Revenue from ISO 37001, ISO 37301, and ISO 31000 certification and training programs delivered through the ABAC™ Center of Excellence. Includes Introduction training, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Lead Auditor programs. Certification and training fees are charged per program per participant, with ongoing recertification revenue.
4. Third-Party Risk Management (3PRM™): Ongoing third-party risk management advisory and monitoring services covering supplier/vendor risk profiling, regulatory compliance, business intelligence, ABAC compliance, and contract risk management. Delivered as an integrated managed service with annual retainer or per-assessment pricing models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CRI Group is a global risk management and compliance firm delivering pre-employment background screening, integrity due diligence, third-party risk management, fraud and IP investigations, anti-money laundering advisory, and ISO anti-bribery/compliance certification to enterprise clients. Its services are delivered through proprietary platforms EmploySmart™, DueDiligence360™ and 3PRM™, supported by a global team of 50+ multilingual analysts, Certified Fraud Examiners and forensic accountants operating across 80+ countries.

Product overview

CRI Group operates as a global risk management and compliance firm offering a unified platform of investigative and screening services. Its core product portfolio centres on EmploySmart (pre-employment background screening certified for BS7858) and DueDiligence360 (corporate accountability investigations), supplemented by specialized investigation services including Fraud Risk Investigations, Insurance Fraud Investigations, IP Infringement Investigations, and Investigative Services. The company extends its offering through proprietary solutions such as 3PRM (Third-Party Risk Management) and ABAC (Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption) solutions delivered via the ABAC Center of Excellence. The platform is supported by AML Advisory, Compliance Solutions, Business Intelligence, and Background Investigations, all powered by a global network spanning Europe, Middle East, Asia, North and South America with over 50 full-time analysts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EmploySmart™: Pre-employment screening service certified for BS7858 to avoid negligent hiring liabilities.
• EmploySmart™ EduGuard
• DueDiligence360™
• 3PRM™
• ABAC™ Center of Excellence

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.98% dispute-free background check results
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ICC Counterfeiting Intelligence BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRI Group is an integral member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau, participating in a global network of anti-counterfeit investigators, consultants, advisors, and industry groups dedicated to intellectual property protection and brand enforcement worldwide.
• PBSA (Professional Background Screening Association)coreOthersCRI Group has achieved accreditation from the PBSA Background Screening Credentialing Council, demonstrating adherence to industry standards for background screening. CRI Group actively participates in PBSA events including the Annual Conference and APAC AGM as an exhibitor and presenter.
• ABAC™ Center of Excellence (sister brand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABAC™ Center of Excellence is a sister brand of CRI Group, established as an independent certification body for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification (ISO 37001), Compliance Management Systems certification (ISO 37301), and Risk Management System certification (ISO 31000). CRI Group leverages ABAC™ as a key differentiator and revenue stream through joint GTM of certification and training services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HireRight: Global background screening provider offering pre-employment checks, compliance, and drug/health screening via an enterprise platform. Directly comparable to CRI's EmploySmart offering, with similar multi-jurisdictional delivery but materially larger scale.
• Sterling (Sterling Check Corp.): Public background screening and identity verification company (NYSE: STER) offering background checks, drug testing, credentialing, and compliance services. One of CRI's closest scaled comparables in the employment-screening space.
• First Advantage: Global background screening, identity, and verification provider (NASDAQ: FA) covering employment screening, criminal records, due diligence, and compliance. Competes head-to-head with CRI across screening and corporate investigations.
• Kroll: Specialized global firm offering investigations, due diligence, cyber risk, and financial advisory. Overlaps directly with CRI's DueDiligence360™, fraud investigations, and corporate-accountability offerings.
• Pinkerton: Corporate investigations, background screening, and risk management firm with global delivery. Directly comparable to CRI in investigative services, compliance screening, and corporate risk advisory.
• Control Risks: Global risk consultancy providing due diligence, political risk, fraud and corruption investigations, and third-party risk services. Highly relevant peer to CRI's DueDiligence360™ and 3PRM™ offerings for enterprise clients.
• GBG: Identity verification, location, and compliance solutions provider serving regulated industries with AML/KYC and fraud-prevention data. Comparable to CRI's screening and AML advisory services, particularly for financial-services clients.

Emerging players

• Checkr: Technology-first background screening platform serving enterprise and marketplace customers with API-based checks. Represents the modern, developer-friendly delivery model CRI competes against in the screening category.
• Certn: AI-driven background screening and candidate intelligence platform with global coverage. Emerging disruptor competing against established screening providers like CRI on speed and UX.

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting (Forensic & Litigation Consulting): Global advisory firm with substantial forensic accounting, fraud investigation, and anti-corruption practice. Overlaps with CRI's fraud-risk investigations and forensic accounting services as part of a much broader professional services portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/crigroup
• Xx.com/crigroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@crigroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corporate-research-and-investigations
• Instagraminstagram.com/crigroup
• Pinterestpinterest.com/crigroup

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Corporate Research and Investigations