LOS ANGELES, August 4, 2008 – Marlin Equity Partners, LLC is pleased to announce that it has acquired a controlling interest in Financial Consulting & Trading International, Inc. (“FCTI”), one of the largest independent owners of ATMs in the United States. With extensive operations throughout the U.S., FCTI caters to enterprise-level customers in banking, hospitality, entertainment, trucking and retail. Headquartered in Los Angeles, FCTI is known for providing its customers with excellence in service and support, especially in optimizing all logistical aspects of ATM ownership, including maintenance, cash management, equipment installation and de-installation, software customization, process management automation, and custom reporting.
Bill Atkinson, Technology Group President of Marlin, was named Chairman of the Board of FCTI. Mr. Atkinson has more than 25 years of senior-level experience with diverse technology-based companies including VeriFone, Dun & Bradstreet, Vertel Corporation, Titan Corporation, and Expertsoft. “We are excited about the opportunity to utilize FCTI as a platform for organic and external growth via acquisitions,” stated Mr. Atkinson. “FCTI’s leadership has done a fantastic job of building a scalable platform to capitalize on growth opportunities within the sector.”
Gabriel Frem, FCTI’s Founder and President, stated, “we have built a highly profitable business, and established valuable alliances with major retailers and banks in 48 states, all organically and without performing a single acquisition. But, with Marlin now on board, we gain access to seasoned executives with proven track records in structuring multi-billion dollar deals, and a winning team with hundreds of millions of dollars under management. Marlin perfectly complements our future strategy of growth in the retail and banking arenas. Marlin’s capital and expertise will propel us further and faster ahead of the competition, as we continue to provide superior value to our customers.”
“FCTI is an exciting platform because of its unique ability to create scalability by leveraging software and technology, while providing superior customer service,” stated Andy Martinez, a Vice President with Marlin. “Marlin is committed to providing the financial and strategic resources required to drive strong, sustainable revenue growth at FCTI.”
For more information, please visit www.fcti.net.
About Marlin Equity Partners, LLC
Marlin Equity Partners, LLC is a Los Angeles, California-based private investment firm focused on providing corporate parents, shareholders and other stakeholders with tailored solutions that meet their business and liquidity needs in special situations. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries that are in the process of undergoing varying degrees of operational, financial or market-driven change where its capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthens a company’s outlook and enhance value. Since its inception, Marlin Equity Partners has successfully completed 18 acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.
For additional information, please contact Peter Spasov at (310) 364-0100 or via e-mail at pspasov@marlinequity.com.