MCT Trading Inc. (MCT) has announced that it has acquired certain key assets of PLar Analytics LLC, a provider of financial models for mortgage bankers, and of PB Pacific Partners LLC, which offers consulting services on capital markets and mortgage servicing.
The deal expands MCT’s advisory services to include specialization in mortgage servicing rights (MSR) valuation business. This new MSR Services Group will be headed by Phil Laren, founder of PLar Analytics and PB Pacific Partners. MCT’s acquisition includes certain key assets of PLar Analytics’, PB Pacific Partner’s customer base and its proprietary Enhanced Servicing Model (ESM). Laren is now a full-time employee at MCT.
“This deal is a natural fit for MCT. We have been utilizing the ESM model for over two years; it has multiple advantages over other valuation models,” said Curtis Richins, president of MCT. “With Phil Laren running our new MSR Services Group, we have expanded our service offerings, enabling us to deliver even more tangible value to our lender clients.”
MCT clients will benefit immediately as a result of the acquisition with more granular analysis of the “retained” vs. “released best execution” decision-making process and access to the “best-in-class” MSR pipeline valuation services. MCT also intends to integrate PLar Analytics’ ESM and MSR software with MCTlive!, its award-winning secondary marketing technology platform for real-time trading, analytics and best-execution.
“Given Mr. Laren's extensive capital markets experience and industry-leading knowledge of MSR valuation, he is well-equipped to effectively assist MCT’s clients strategically and operationally as they evaluate retained execution opportunities,” said Phil Rasori, COO at MCT. “He created a very sophisticated, proven valuation model. Our clients are looking to MCT for advice in selecting the best servicing partners and then implement best practices, which strengthens our value proposition for lenders.”
“I am extremely excited to join the team at MCT and look forward to growing the MSR Services Group,” said Laren. “Many lenders need specialized guidance in an effort to accurately value their servicing portfolios to maximize profitability and manage risk. They will need help in evaluation potential new partners, such as sub-servicers. The new group that we’re establishing will be key in supporting existing MCT clients as they grow and in penetrating larger accounts.”
