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Transactions

August 2021
Garden Grove, CA
has agreed to be acquired by
Houston, TX


Background

Informative Research (“IR) is a family-owned provider of technology-leading data, analytics, credit decisioning, and workflow automation products and services to more than 3,000 mortgage originators and other members of the real-estate community who use the company’s proprietary technology platform and advanced integrations to streamline the loan lifecycle. We advised the company on a sale to Stewart Information Services Corp in a transaction valued at $192 million.

Marlin & Associates (M&A) has had a relationship with the company for years. As the company prospered, IR’s management and shareholders received multiple inbound calls from strategic and financial sponsors that desired to combine. When the time came to decide on a direction, they asked M&A to help them develop, assess, select and execute their best strategic and financial alternatives.  They knew that M&A has a deep understanding of the B2B fintech, payments and mortgage-tech eco-system, as well as expertise in advising family-owned businesses on successful transformative transactions.



Overview

M&A leveraged its deep domain expertise working with B2B fintech companies in general and Mortgage Tech companies in particular to help the Company develop and assess its alternatives. We worked with IR senior management to develop materials that would clearly communicate IR’s strengths, strategy and growth potential. M&A then worked with the Company to identify and communicate with a focused group of highly relevant strategic partners and financial sponsors with industry knowledge. With M&A’s guidance, IR’s management vetted these potential partners. After a careful review, the shareholders agreed to sell the Company to Stewart Information Services Corp (“Stewart”), a global real estate services company. The transaction is is valued at $192 million, and is subject to final regulatory approval.

M&A Role

M&A acted as IR’s exclusive strategic and financial advisor on this strategically important transaction. 

M&A helped the company prepare customized marketing materials and detailed financial analyses; identify potential partners; conduct discussions with those parties; facilitate information exchange; and conduct a methodical and disciplined competitive process that resulted in multiple indications of interest - and advised the company on the negotiation and evaluation of alternative offers. M&A then helped the company manage detailed due diligence reviews, and eventually helped the company complete a transaction that meets the needs of Stewart as well as the needs of IR’s shareholders, employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

Press

Stewart Strengthens Data and Analytics Capabilities by Announcing its Intent to Acquire Informative Research

August 26, 2021

Acquisition will add technology and data services to enhance loan and real estate solutions

 

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE-STC) today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Informative Research (IR), a leader in providing credit, consumer, and real estate data and technology services. IR serves more than 3,000 customers across the United States and offers a wide range of mission critical solutions through its proprietary platform to streamline the loan cycle.

“Through our technology suite, IR allows customers to improve sales and profits while reducing risk, which makes it a perfect fit with Stewart. We look forward to a bright future as we help our customers drive performance and succeed.”

“Stewart continues to invest in the creation of an end-to-end, customer-focused real estate services and technology platform,” said Fred Eppinger, Stewart Chief Executive Officer. “By bringing IR into the Stewart family of companies, we further reflect that commitment and advance our data and analytics capabilities. I’m excited about the possibilities our service platform offers as we add IR to Cloudvirga, Signature Closers, and NotaryCam as well as our existing appraisal and title capabilities to provide customers with superior performance and ease of use across the transaction lifecycle.”

“Joining the Stewart family accelerates our ability to develop and bring to market additional products and services that will better serve the lending and real estate industry. We’re excited to be able to help drive the creation of a holistic loan and real estate analytical service and closing process at Stewart,” said Sean Buckner, Informative Research President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through our technology suite, IR allows customers to improve sales and profits while reducing risk, which makes it a perfect fit with Stewart. We look forward to a bright future as we help our customers drive performance and succeed.”

The purchase price is $192 million and will be funded with available company resources. The transaction is expected to close following the appropriate regulatory review and will be immediately accretive to Stewart’s earnings. IR will continue operating as a standalone company. Locke Lord LLP is serving as legal advisor to Stewart. Marlin & Associates is serving as exclusive strategic and financial advisor to IR and Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP as its legal advisor.

About Stewart

Stewart (NYSE-STC) is a global real estate services company, offering products and services through our direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers™ and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage industry, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise, and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. At Stewart, we are dedicated to becoming the premier title services company and we are committed to doing so by partnering with our customers to create mutual success. Learn more at stewart.com.

ST-IR

 

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