Fidelity National Considering Sale of Assets

December 10, 2013 by Zachary Tracer

Fidelity National Financial Inc., the title insurer that also has restaurant businesses and an auto parts company, hired JPMorgan Chase & Co. to review possible divestitures of assets.

The insurer will consider spinoffs and sales of “portfolio company investments,” Jacksonville, Florida-based Fidelity National said today in a statement. The company’s holdings include stakes in vehicle-component maker Remy International Inc., human-resources firm Ceridian Corp. and American Blue Ribbon Holdings LLC, the operator of restaurants including O’Charley’s, Max & Erma’s, Village Inn and Bakers Square.

Chairman William Foley is increasing his focus on the housing market after agreeing in May to buy Lender Processing Services Inc., a former unit, for about $2.9 billion. The deal, which hasn’t yet been completed, will help Foley expand in the business of providing and analyzing mortgage data.

“Our energies are focused on the pending acquisition,” Foley said in the statement. “Portfolio company investments have significant value which may not be fully reflected in our stock price and we believe there are attractive alternatives we can pursue.”

Fidelity National advanced 0.8 percent to $29.78 in early trading at 8:19 a.m. in New York. The company gained 25 percent this year through yesterday, trailing the 28 percent rally in the Standard and Poor’s Midcap 400 Index.

–Editors: Dan Kraut, Steven Crabill