CRIF ACQUIRES THE MAJORITY OF SHARES IN HPI (HIRE PURCHASE INFORMATION) IN IRELAND
The acquisition will strengthen CRIF’s local presence in the field of risk management and decision support solutions.
Dublin (Ireland) and Bologna (Italy), 10 January, 2021- CRIF, a global company specialising in credit bureau and business information, outsourcing and processing services, and advanced solutions for credit and open banking, has today announced the acquisition of 73% of the shares in HPI, a leading service provider based in Dublin.
HPI, a unique company of high standing operating in a competitive and sophisticated market, was founded in 1948 with the aim of establishing and managing the reference Irish register of financed assets. With a particular focus on motor vehicles subject to hire purchase agreements and other forms of lending, HPI represents a unique point of access to records contributed by a pool of participants, including AIB (Allied Irish Bank), BOI (Bank of Ireland) and UB (Ulster Bank), all of whom are also shareholders. Comprehensive, real-time finance checks on cars, trucks and other types of assets are offered to both prospective buyers and their financiers, through a variety of B2B and B2B2C channels.
CRIF has been operating in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland for many years, supporting a variety of players, including financial institutions, insurance companies, businesses and other organizations with its innovative decision support systems, analytics and software solutions. Moreover, thanks to the acquisition of Vision-Net, a leading provider of business information based in Dublin, CRIF provides immediate access to credit reports and business information on every company in Ireland and the UK.
Through this acquisition, CRIF aims to further consolidate its footprint in the region, delivering value-added services and innovative solutions to the market. By combining its global offering and worldwide expertise with the excellence and unique positioning of HPI in the automotive industry, CRIF is committed to supporting customers in meeting their goals with an even wider range of innovative products and services, ranging from risk management, to business development and compliance onboarding.
Giovanni Catinari, CRIF Director, will take over the running of the Company. He will work alongside Sara Costantini, CRIF Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, to strengthen CRIF’s business strategy in the Republic of Ireland.
“This deal represents another important step in the consolidation of CRIF’s presence in Ireland and we are confident we will bring significant advantages to local clients. Our vision is built on developing new partnerships to strengthen what we offer to our clients and anticipate market needs. By combining the strength of CRIF’s global know-how and experience with HPI’s distinctive expertise, we will help our clients to seize new opportunities and open up new possibilities for growth and innovation,” said Carlo Gherardi, President and CEO of CRIF.
“I am very happy about this acquisition, because CRIF and HPI share common values and drivers, in particular the strong commitment to customer care, data quality and uniqueness of the proposition for our customers. Our distinctive value proposition lies in the development of our synergies and in merging respective operating niches: HPI’s unique presence and understanding of local needs, and CRIF’s global expertise in this and other sectors. This makes it possible to take a further step towards what I regard as a very strategic market, following CRIF’s acquisition of Vision-net and the established projects in the country, while also considering the current European context,” commented Sara Costantini, Regional Director of CRIF for the UK & Ireland.
About HPI
HPI, founded in 1948, maintains a register of financed assets, with a particular focus on motor vehicles that are subject to hire purchase agreements or other forms of lending. HPI is a unique source of information for Irish finance houses, car dealers, leasing providers and the lending industry in general, playing a key role in the assessment of risks associated with credit extended to back the acquisition of vehicles (both private and commercial), machinery and other types of assets. Consumers seeking to buy on the used car market can also benefit from an HPI check, thanks to which they can be reassured that they will hold the full title for the vehicle they intend to purchase.
About CRIF
CRIF is a global company specialising in credit bureau and business information, outsourcing and processing services, and advanced solutions for credit and open banking. Established in 1988 in Bologna (Italy), CRIF operates over four continents and is currently the leader in continental Europe in the field of banking credit information and one of the main operators on a global level in the field of integrated services for business & commercial information and credit & marketing management. Moreover, CRIF is included in the prestigious IDC FinTech Rankings Top 100, a ranking of the leading global technology solution providers to the financial services industry, and in 2019 completed its coverage as an AISP in 31 European countries where the revised Payment Services Directive is applicable. Today over 10,500 banks and financial institutions, 600 insurance companies, 82,000 business clients and 1,000,000 consumers use CRIF services in 50 countries on a daily basis.