SERENT CAPITAL HAS INVESTED IN GDS LINK
Advisory Role: Krall & Co Inc. initiated this transaction on behalf of Serent Capital.
Announcement Date: August 23, 2018.
Buyer: Serent Capital (2008) is a San Francisco-based private equity firm with a focus on high growth software and services businesses. Serent has been an active investor in financial technology through platform and add-on acquisitions such as Optimal Blue (2012), Loansifter (2013), Commissions Inc. (2015), Mercury Network, LLC (2015), Platinum Data Solutions, Inc. (2016), Docutech (2016), and Appraisal Scope, Inc. (2017).
Target: GDS Link (2006) is a global provider of credit risk management software for the financial services industry. GDS Link’s flagship solution, DataView360, is an enterprise-wide data engine that is pre-configured to access more than 80 worldwide data sources and to integrate the data with any host system. DataView360 is utilized by lenders in a multitude of industries to automate the loan origination process. The Company also offers the GDS Link Credit Decision Engine Software, which is powered by a business rules management system and enables users to implement risk-based pricing, custom models, multi-dimensional tables and pricing strategies, among other things. In addition, GDS Link offers a Case Management interface that handles business process automation through queue management, workflow, prioritization, exception handling and cross-sell. GDS Link serves traditional and alternative financial service lending through both brick-and-mortar and online channels, marketplace lending for both consumer and small business, point of sale retail finance, credit card, auto, and leasing. GDS Link is headquartered in Dallas with seven international offices including the United Kingdom and Spain.
Deal Rationale: The transaction provides liquidity for certain investors and capital for growth.
Terms: Serent Capital has made a minority investment in GDS Link. Financial terms were not disclosed.