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Chatham Financial acquires tech startup Verumex, advancing CRE data management for the industry

Date:
October 1, 2024

Summary

Chatham Financial announced its acquisition of VmX, a comprehensive global data platform, enabling commercial real estate investors and asset managers to resolve common challenges associated with poor CRE data quality.

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Chatham Financial, a global leader in financial risk management technology and advisory, announced its acquisition of Verumex (VmX), a comprehensive global data platform serving the complex needs of the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. The combined firm will enable CRE investors and asset managers to resolve common challenges associated with poor CRE data quality, improving day-to-day efficiency, and increasing decision-making confidence for clients.

CRE veterans Nick Laird, Paul Hiatt, and Ravi Vijayaraghavan founded VmX in 2018 to bring a holistic data strategy to the industry, addressing the widespread challenges investors face in managing scaled portfolios with delayed, incomplete, and inaccurate information. VmX leverages a proprietary data platform and expert-driven services to aggregate, standardize, and clean commercial real estate data regardless of portfolio size and geography, unlocking confidence in data-driven insights and decisions.

“The lack of access to real time data combined with poor data quality leads to ineffective analysis and significant wasted time for CRE asset and investment managers,” said Nick Laird, CEO and co-founder of VmX. “Other solutions have come up short because they lack VmX’s structured tech platform and sophisticated validation rules engine paired with knowledgeable domain experts onboarding and validating the data. This combination of tech and data service gives firms the engine fueling all other systems, analyses, and decisions.”

Integration of VmX’s technology and services teams into Chatham’s debt and derivatives advisory and software creates a consolidated source to actively and intelligently manage CRE assets and liabilities. With over $4 billion notional hedged per business day, over 250,000 daily derivative valuations, and over $1.7 trillion in debt principal on Chatham’s system, the expanded Chatham platform of solutions positions CRE investors with a competitive edge and ability to drive strategic outcomes.

Laird went on to note, “Chatham is a natural fit to take our platform from startup to the industry standard for investors large and small. Chatham started in CRE and continues to be the leader in world class capital markets solutions.”

The VmX acquisition reinforces Chatham’s uncompromising commitment to client service. “Chatham’s CRE clients partner with us knowing we will empower their capital markets decisions and strategies with complete expertise and quality across advisory, data, and software solutions,” said Matt Henry, CEO of Chatham Financial. “We’re known for having best-in-class talent to serve our clients, and the addition of the VmX team builds on that reputation.”

VmX was backed by leading firms in the CRE industry, including Morgan Stanley Investment Management. “The VmX platform and services are core to our ability to comprehensively analyze our investment portfolio data,” said John Klopp, Managing Director and Head of Global Real Assets for Morgan Stanley. “We believe the acquisition and integration into the Chatham ecosystem will be a game changer for the industry.”

Under the acquisition, VmX is now wholly owned by Chatham Financial.

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About Chatham Financial

Chatham Financial is the largest independent financial risk management advisory and technology firm. A leader in debt and derivative solutions, Chatham provides clients with access to in-depth knowledge, innovative tools, and an incomparable team of over 700 employees to help mitigate risks associated with interest rate, foreign currency, and commodity exposures. Founded in 1991, Chatham serves more than 3,500 companies across a wide range of industries — handling over $1 trillion in transaction volume annually and helping businesses maximize their value in the capital markets, every day. To learn more, visit chathamfinancial.com.

About Verumex (VmX)

Verumex is a comprehensive, global data platform serving the $32 trillion commercial real estate sector. VmX was founded in 2018 by experienced real estate fund investors frustrated by the industry’s lack of a centralized technology solution providing real-time data, research and analytics. With a team of domain experts and data engineers, the platform can manage the data needs of large funds and small investors located anywhere in the world, providing clients with a competitive edge in deploying capital, managing assets, and reporting to investors. Learn more at verumex.com.