Houlihan Lokey Advises Mother Lode

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Mother Lode Holding Co. (Mother Lode) has been acquired by First American Financial Corp. (First American). The transaction closed on May 2, 2022.

First American, a premier provider of title insurance, settlement services, and risk solutions for real estate transactions and the leader in the digital transformation of its industry, announced its acquisition of Mother Lode, a California-based provider of title insurance, underwriting, and escrow services for residential and commercial real estate transactions.

Customers of Mother Lode’s operating subsidiaries will benefit from access to First American’s enhanced underwriting resources and the industry’s largest property and ownership dataset as well as other industry-leading resources for residential transactions. Following the close of the transaction, Mother Lode and its operating subsidiaries will continue to operate under their existing brands as a wholly owned subsidiary of First American. Mother Lode’s Chief Executive Officer Randy Bradley, Chief Operating Officer Lisa Steele, and President Darrick Blatnick will continue to lead the company.

Mother Lode has 17 operating subsidiaries throughout the U.S., including its principal subsidiary, Placer Title Company. With 92 offices in 11 states, Mother Lode’s subsidiaries are premier brands within their respective real estate communities rooted in a 49-year track record of providing superior customer service. Mother Lode’s subsidiaries operate primarily in California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Arizona, Washington, and New Mexico.

With its combination of financial strength and stability built over more than 130 years, innovative proprietary technologies, and unmatched data assets, First American is leading the digital transformation of its industry. The company also provides data products to the title industry and other third parties; valuation products and services; mortgage subservicing; home warranty products; banking, trust, and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $9.2 billion in 2021, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2022, First American was named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Great Place to Work® and Fortune magazine for the seventh consecutive year.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to Mother Lode and assisted in structuring and negotiating the transaction. The transaction highlights Houlihan Lokey's continued position as a leading advisor within the title insurance sector, which sits at the nexus of the broader mortgage, insurance, and real estate services practices.