TZP Group Sells AtData to Experian
Private equity firm TZP Group announced the sale of AtData, an email identity and fraud prevention platform, to global information services company Experian. The transaction marks a successful exit for TZP Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- AtData was formed in 2021 through the merger of FreshAddress and TowerData, both companies with long histories in email marketing and data solutions dating back to 1999 and 2001, respectively. - TZP Group's involvement began in 2018 with a strategic investment to recapitalize FreshAddress and accelerate its growth, leading to a holding period of approximately eight years before this exit. - The acquisition enhances Experian's identity and fraud prevention capabilities, a key strategic focus demonstrated by its October 2025 purchase of regulatory technology firm KYC360. - This transaction adds a significant data asset to Experian, including intelligence on over 10 billion email addresses and the processing of 150 billion real-time signals monthly. - The deal represents the culmination of a long-standing relationship, as Experian and AtData had a highly collaborative partnership for over 15 years prior to the acquisition. - From a deal structure perspective, this was a strategic acquisition by a corporate buyer (Experian) from a financial sponsor (TZP Group), a common transaction type in the technology M&A landscape. - Canaccord Genuity LLC served as the financial advisor to AtData, while Winston & Strawn LLP provided legal counsel to both AtData and TZP Group, representing the sell-side of the transaction. - AtData's CEO, Tom Burke, who founded TowerData in 2001 and led the merger to create AtData, will continue to lead the business within Experian.
