LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2008 – Marlin Equity Partners, LLC is pleased to announce the acquisition of Courage Inc, a leading designer and marketer of unique novelty pens including the Kooky Klickers. Courage will be integrated with Ultra*Pro, a Marlin portfolio company, enabling Courage to expand its distribution reach within the mass market and into international markets. The acquisition further enhances the Ultra*Pro product offering with a complimentary line of branded, high margin, impulse priced products while expanding its footprint into new distribution channels and retail departments.
Mark Siegel, the President of Hanover Accessories LLC, an Ultra*Pro subsidiary will also lead the Courage International business. Brent Reese, SVP of Courage International and Founder of Courage Inc., commented, “Marlin’s financial support will give the business the strategic and financial resources it requires to maintain the aggressive growth of the past two years. These resources will enable us to expand our current product line, extend the brands into new categories and broaden our global distribution.”
“This is an exciting opportunity to maximize the unique brand appeal and incredible momentum of the Courage brands,” stated George Kase, a Principal with Marlin Equity Partners. “By leveraging the existing operating teams of Hanover and Ultra*Pro, we will dramatically reduce the fixed cost needs of the business and provide strategic resources to drive strong, sustainable revenue growth.”
About Marlin Equity Partners, LLC
Marlin Equity Partners 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 our capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources will significantly strengthen a company’s outlook and enhance value. Since October 2005, Marlin Equity Partners has successfully completed the acquisitions of Intuitive Manufacturing Systems, Relevant Business Systems, SupplyWorks, XKO Software, CMS Software, Aldon Computer Group, Ultra*Pro, Ronco, Hanover Accessories and Courage. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.
About Ultra*Pro
Ultra*Pro is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer packaged goods including investment protection products for sports and gaming collectibles, photo albums and scrapbooking supplies marketed under the 7gypsies and Chatterbox names. Additionally, Ultra*Pro, through its Hanover Accessories subsidiary, manufactures and distributes a broad line of jewelry, hair care, fashion pet accessories and name personalized gifts and novelties. Ultra*Pro is based in Commerce, California. For more information, please visit www.ultrapro.com.
For additional information, please contact Peter Spasov at (310) 364-0100 or via e-mail at pspasov@marlinequity.com.