Thomas H. Lee, the Boston-based investor who made a killing by selling HomeSide Lending, is eyeing Fidelity National Financial, Jacksonville, Fla., the nation's largest title insurance firm.According to a report in the The New York Times, Mr. Lee's Thomas H. Lee Partners and another firm, Texas Pacific Group, are contemplating buying a stake in Fidelity or purchasing the company outright. At MortgageWire's deadline, THLP and TPG could not be reached for comment. A Fidelity spokesman declined to comment. One investment banker familiar with Mr. Lee said, "For him to buy a stake must mean he thinks the company is undervalued." Late last year, THLP made a large investment in ResMAE, Brea, Calif., an upstart nonconforming lender founded by three former Long Beach Mortgage executives. (The size of the investment has never been disclosed.) As of Wednesday, Fidelity National (stock symbol: FNF) had a market capitalization of $7.5 billion.
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Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent had been the betting favorite to take the reins at Treasury. Scott Turner, a former congressman and NFL player, will lead the housing agency.
November 22 -
In its latest financial stability report, the Federal Reserve warned high equity valuations and low levels of liquidity could leave the financial system vulnerable to shocks.
November 22 -
Freddie Mac is offering a municipal bond option for investors in its ML multifamily securitization offerings starting with its December issuance.
November 22 -
Investors bought 15.9% of U.S. homes sold in Q3, according to Redfin, a level similar to 2018 and 2019, when the share was around 14%.
November 22 -
The development is the latest in an ongoing series of initiatives the Department of Housing and Urban Development has introduced to encourage growth of the factory-built construction segment.
November 22 -
Serious mortgage delinquencies are at their highest since May 2023, and early payment default activity is also a concern, ICE Mortgage Technology said.
November 22