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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAssurant Inc., the insurer of foreclosed homes, acquired StreetLinks LLC from a group of owners led by Novation Cos. for about $60 million in cash to expand appraisal services for the mortgage industry.
The transaction probably will add to earnings next year, New York-based Assurant said Wednesday in a prepared statement. Assurant’s payment for the deal may increase, based on the business’ future performance, the company said.
StreetLinks, which sells real estate appraisal management services and software, will retain its brand name and remain headquartered in Indianapolis, according to the statement.
StreetLinks said in December that it planned to lease 25,000 square feet on the 68,000-square-foot ground floor of the $30 million Artistry project under construction at 451 E. Market St. The business plans to make the move from 7551 S. Shelby St. in the spring.
Assurant is seeking to diversify revenue at its specialty unit after regulators pressured the company to cut premiums and refund homeowners amid probes into the ties between insurers and banks involving force-placed coverage. Those policies involve mandatory residential insurance for mortgage borrowers who lapse on insurance payments with their original carriers.
“This acquisition is a natural extension for Assurant Specialty Property,” Gene Mergelmeyer, the CEO of the unit, said in the statement. “We are a leader in insurance, preservation and other services for the mortgage industry, and StreetLinks is a leader in valuation solutions and technologies used by lenders and appraisers nationwide.”
Novation owned about 88 percent of StreetLinks and will use proceeds from the sale to bolster its cloud-based communications software subsidiary, the company said in a separate statement.
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