New Empower proprietor rebrands enterprise as Darkish Matter

Although the Empower LOS was the second most-used origination platform within the mortgage enterprise, it was generally seen as taking a again seat to its former company mother or father’s servicing know-how.

A rebranding to the title Darkish Matter Applied sciences underneath its new possession may change that. 

“We are actually abundantly and solely centered on mortgage origination know-how, and our purchasers particularly will see a distinction there,” mentioned Sean Dugan, chief income officer. “As a lighter group underneath Constellation possession, we’re going to have the ability to design and ship in a extra nimble manner.”

This transaction closed on Sept. 15, 10 days after Intercontinental Trade accomplished its acquisition of Black Knight.

Constellation’s buy was contingent on the Federal Commerce Fee dropping its opposition to the ICE deal, which it did in early August. 

ICE and Black Knight agreed to their deal in Could 2022. The Empower sale was entered into in March so as to drive regulatory approval for the merger between two market giants.

However ICE, Black Knight and the Federal Commerce Fee didn’t formally come collectively on their settlement till Aug. 25.

All alongside, “we’re very optimistic, we obtained assurances from our counsel to point that this was going to finally shut,” mentioned Bonnie Wilhelm, chief working officer of the Perseus Working Group at Constellation. “We simply weren’t certain when that was going to occur.”

Constellation first met with the Darkish Matter staff in February and is now excited they will formally work collectively, Wilhelm added.

The branding happened as a result of administration was searching for one thing that was extra edgy. 

“Darkish matter is the ever present piece that helps the universe evolve, the constellations evolve [in a reference to the company’s new ownership], and it is actually the spine of the universe,” mentioned Wealthy Gagliano, CEO of Darkish Matter. “We view ourselves because the spine of our originators and our purchasers” to assist them create efficiencies and drive down prices.

Earlier than the transaction, Gagliano was president of Black Knight Origination Applied sciences.

Empower will stay the title of the LOS, Gagliano mentioned, noting it’s in its twenty fifth 12 months within the market.

Administration has had preliminary discussions with purchasers previous to closing however these had been restricted due to sure regulatory tips.

“Subsequent week we’ll be reaching out to our purchasers and speaking in just a little extra element,” Gagliano mentioned. “The Constellation staff has been nice with spending time with our purchasers and I believe they’ve gotten actually comfy with them.”

Darkish Matter can be reaching out by way of cellphone calls and emails within the coming days, Dugan added.

Most, if not all customers will keep on the Empower system now that the deal is completed.

“I believe our purchasers actually respect what we have achieved and all that we dropped at the market,” mentioned Gagliano. “We anticipate our purchasers to stay with us and all indications are they’re enthusiastic about Constellation and so they’re excited that this management staff is staying collectively.”

Constellation goals to have its companies preserve their clients endlessly as it’s a long-term proprietor, mentioned Scott Smith, the co-president of the Romulus Portfolio, Perseus Working Group.

“We have labored with Wealthy and his staff, understanding how they’re investing and what they’re doing so their clients stick round endlessly with Darkish Matter,” mentioned Smith. That may be a core philosophy throughout the 800 acquisitions and over 100 verticals that Constellation is in.

Constellation additionally owns Mortgage Builder (acquired from Altisource Portfolio Options in April 2019) and ReverseVision, bought in February 2022, and people will stay separate companies run independently from Darkish Matter, mentioned Smith.

Among the many different companies included within the sale to Darkish Matter is the synthetic intelligence initiative, Aiva, that Black Knight acquired in 2018. The Trade Service Community is also now part of Darkish Matter.

Nevertheless, the Optimum Blue product and pricing engine, which was additionally acquired by Constellation as a part of the divestitures that enabled the ICE-Black Knight deal to undergo, can be a separate enterprise.