{"id":2149032,"date":"2026-01-19T07:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T07:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/yorkshire\/?p=2149032"},"modified":"2026-01-19T07:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T07:32:10","slug":"fintel-strengthens-data-and-ai-strategy-with-11m-pearson-ham-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/yorkshire\/news\/2149032-fintel-strengthens-data-and-ai-strategy-with-11m-pearson-ham-deal","title":{"rendered":"Fintel strengthens data and AI strategy with \u00a311m Pearson Ham deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Huddersfield-based Fintel has bought the market pricing business of Pearson Ham Group for \u00a311m as it steps up its push to become a leading technology and data partner to the UK financial services sector.<\/p>\n

The AIM-listed group said the deal, completed through its Defaqto subsidiary, will accelerate growth in its software and data division and be earnings accretive in 2026. The consideration includes \u00a37.5m upfront and \u00a33.5m deferred, payable in 2026.<\/p>\n

The acquisition brings a large proprietary pricing dataset covering motor, home, travel and pet insurance, giving Defaqto what Fintel says is the most comprehensive combined product and pricing data offering in the UK personal lines insurance market.<\/p>\n

Fintel said the data will underpin further development of Defaqto\u2019s technology platforms, including Matrix360, its market intelligence software launched earlier this year and now used by 22 major insurers. The enhanced dataset will also support new \u201cvalue for money\u201d ratings and benchmarking tools as insurers increasingly turn to AI-driven decision-making.<\/p>\n

The acquired business is expected to generate \u00a32.6m of revenue and \u00a30.9m of EBITDA in FY26, with the transaction net earnings accretive after financing costs and tax. It has been funded from existing resources, drawing on Fintel\u2019s \u00a3120m revolving credit facility agreed last year.<\/p>\n

John Milliken, chief executive of Fintel\u2019s Software & Data division, said securing proprietary data was critical to winning in an AI-led economy, while group CEO Matt Timmins described the acquisition as \u201cexactly the type of high-quality, synergistic deal\u201d Fintel is targeting.<\/p>\n

Stephen Kennedy, chief executive of PHG Market Pricing, said joining Defaqto would unlock \u201cstrong synergies\u201d and accelerate growth for the business and its clients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acquisition will enhance Defaqto\u2019s insurance pricing data and accelerates growth in its software and data division<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":271992,"featured_media":2149033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53262,127685,120781],"coauthors":[137100],"class_list":["post-2149032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news","category-financial-services","category-markets","tag-featured-story","tag-yorkshire"],"yoast_head":"\nFintel strengthens data and AI strategy with \u00a311m Pearson Ham deal | TheBusinessDesk.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Acquisition will enhance Defaqto\u2019s insurance pricing data and accelerates growth in its software and data division\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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