Black Knight exploring a potential sale following takeover interest

Mortgage lending software and analytics provider Black Knight Inc. is exploring a potential sale after receiving takeover interest, according to people familiar with the matter.

Private equity firms have been weighing bids for Black Knight, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks were private. The company is working with advisers to assist it, the people added.

Black Knight hasn’t decided whether to pursue a sale and could still choose to remain independent, the people said.

The company counts billionaire investor Bill Foley as chairman emeritus. He retired from the board last year, according to a statement at the time.

Representatives for Black Knight didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Foley had a 2.2% stake in Black Knight as of a filing in December, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Black Knight’s shares, which had fallen 21% in the past year, rose almost 12% Tuesday for their biggest one-day since 2015. The shares closed at $66.27 in New York trading, giving the company a market value of about $10.3 billion.

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Black Knight provides software, data and analytics to the mortgage and home equity lending and servicing and real estate industries, according to its website.