Optimal Blue Acquisition, Valuation, Funding & Investors

Optimal Blue was acquired by Perseus Operating Group for $700M in September 2023.

Optimal Blue acquisition price

$700M

Acquired by Perseus Operating Group · Sep 2023

Cumulative funding Optimal Blue raised

$22M

across 1 funding round

Optimal Blue Overview

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue is a Plano-headquartered provider of mortgage pricing engines and secondary marketing platforms. The company delivers product eligibility tools, lock desks, and hedging analytics to over 1600 lenders including banks and credit unions across the United States. Its PPE technology processes billions in loan volume annually, integrating with loan origination systems from Ellie Mae and Black Knight. Acquired by Black Knight in 2022, Optimal Blue maintains data centers in multiple states to ensure low-latency pricing for conventional, FHA, and VA loans.


Founded

2002

HQ

United StatesDallas, TX

Status

Acquired

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Subscription

Valuation

$700M (acquired Sep 2023)

Optimal Blue Acquisition

Optimal Blue was acquired by Perseus Operating Group for $700M on 15 September 2023.

Before the acquisition Optimal Blue had raised $22M across 1 funding round.

Optimal Blue, a leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology, provides software and services enabling market participants to price, lock, hedge, and trade mortgages, with its flagship Pricing and Eligibility (PPE) engine used by thousands of originators to lock approximately 40% of U.S. mortgages. The company offers a robust marketplace, actionable data products, and API connections to drive lender and investor profitability. Perseus Operating Group, an operating group of Constellation Software Inc. focused on acquiring and investing in vertical market software businesses committed to long-term customer solutions, completed the acquisition of Optimal Blue from Black Knight Inc., a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), on September 15, 2023. The deal, announced July 17, 2023, was structured for $700 million, comprising $200 million in cash and a $500 million promissory note at 7% interest payable over 40 years. It was contingent on ICE's $11.7 billion acquisition of Black Knight (adjusted to $75 per share after related divestitures), the parallel Perseus acquisition of Black Knight's Empower loan origination system, FTC antitrust approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and other customary conditions. Optimal Blue will operate independently under Perseus within its Romulus Group portfolio, alongside Empower, NOVA LOS, Reverse Vision, and Axacore, emphasizing rapid innovation and organic growth in the mortgage software sector. Perseus leaders Tom George and Scott Smith highlighted the strategic fit, praising Optimal Blue CEO Kevin McMahon's team for their innovation track record and market leadership. The divestiture addressed antitrust concerns in ICE's Black Knight purchase, enabling Perseus to bolster its mortgage software offerings while allowing Optimal Blue to maintain client-focused development.

Optimal Blue acquisition details
AcquirerDateTypePrice
  • Perseus Operating Group
15 Sep 2023Strategic M&A$700M

Optimal Blue Funding History

Optimal Blue has raised a total of $22M across 1 funding round.

Optimal Blue funding rounds

Optimal Blue funding rounds
DateStageRaisedDeal Summary
Jan 2013Undisclosed stage$22MOptimal Blue is a Plano, Texas-based financial services company providing capital markets technology solutions for mortgage lenders. The company's platform spans origination, processing, closing, sales analytics, and servicing integrations, supporting over one-third of U.S. mortgage price locks and nearly 40% of loans sold into the secondary market. Optimal Blue was acquired by Constellation Software in 2023 following a funding history that included a private equity round in February 2013 for an unspecified amount.

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Acquisitions by Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue has acquired 2 companies to date.

Last acquisition by Optimal Blue was on July 10th 2018. Optimal Blue acquired Resitrader for undisclosed valuation.


Latest Acquisitions by Optimal Blue

Resitrader
Comergence
Description
Resitrader is an electronic marketplace for whole loan mortgage trading in the United States. New York-headquartered, its platform facilitates data exchange, document sharing, and pricing between originators, banks, servicers, and investors. The system supports residential and commercial loans, integrating with loan servicing platforms like Black Knight. Resitrader handles billions in annual trade volume for participants including JPMorgan Chase and regional credit unions.
Comergence is a provider of automated compliance and risk management solutions tailored for the mortgage sector. The platform facilitates originator and appraiser due diligence through screening and surveillance tools. It streamlines third-party oversight by delivering verified data accessible around the clock from its Lake Mary, Florida headquarters. Comergence supports lenders with pre-closing quality control and post-closing audits, integrating with loan origination systems nationwide. The company maintains partnerships with major mortgage servicers and investors to ensure regulatory adherence across residential lending portfolios.
HQ CountryUnited StatesUnited States
HQ City
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Deal Date10 Jul 201830 May 2017
Valuationundisclosedundisclosed
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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Optimal Blue Competitors

Optimal Blue competitors include listed companies like Sunyard Technology and Global Infotech, and private ones like 10X Banking, BusinessNext, Unit21 and M2P Fintech.

Public and private companies comparable to Optimal Blue
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
10X BankingUnited KingdomUnited KingdomPrivate$118M$7M$700M5.9x
BusinessNextIndiaNoidaPrivate--$700M-
Unit21United StatesSan Francisco, CAPrivate--$700M-
M2P FintechIndiaIndiaPrivate$54M-$701M13.0x
Sunyard TechnologyChinaChinaPublicly listed$307M$10M$722M-
Global InfotechChinaChinaPublicly listed$154M$7M$747M-

Optimal Blue Public Comps

Optimal Blue is no longer listed, but its public comps include Sunyard Technology, Shanghai Amarsoft, Global Infotech, Sinodata, IRESS, Mitek Systems, Alfa Financial Software, Fujian Apex Software, FINEOS and Client Service International.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Sunyard Technology$307M$10M2.2x-69.2x-
Shanghai Amarsoft$153M$8M4.6x-90.4x-
Global Infotech$154M$7M4.8x-106.4x-
Sinodata$128M($8M)5.6x-(84.9x)-
IRESS$396M$103M2.1x2.3x8.2x8.3x
Mitek Systems$180M$37M4.1x3.7x19.9x11.2x
Alfa Financial Software$170M$58M3.5x3.4x10.3x10.4x
Fujian Apex Software$87M$28M7.6x7.8x23.6x24.0x

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Common questions about Optimal Blue

When was Optimal Blue founded?Optimal Blue was founded in 2002.
Where is Optimal Blue headquartered?Optimal Blue is headquartered in Dallas, TX, United States.
Is Optimal Blue publicly listed?No, Optimal Blue was acquired by Perseus Operating Group in September 2023.
Who acquired Optimal Blue?Optimal Blue was acquired by Perseus Operating Group in September 2023.
How much was Optimal Blue acquired for?Optimal Blue was acquired for $700M in September 2023.
How much funding has Optimal Blue raised?Optimal Blue has raised $22M across 1 funding round.
What was Optimal Blue's last funding round?Optimal Blue's last funding round was a $22M undisclosed-stage round in January 2013.
Which companies are comparable to Optimal Blue?Companies comparable to Optimal Blue include 10X Banking, BusinessNext, Unit21, M2P Fintech, Sunyard Technology and Global Infotech.
How many companies has Optimal Blue acquired?Optimal Blue has acquired 2 companies, including Resitrader and Comergence.

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