Are you an Apex customer looking to make a payment? Click here
Press releases
Cabot Credit Management (CCM), a leading acquirer and manager of consumer debt, has agreed to acquire Marlin Financial Group (Marlin), a leading specialised debt buyer, for £295 million.
The acquisition brings together two companies with complementary capabilities to strengthen their combined position in the market. Marlin has a robust, mature legal collections operation that is highly effective at collecting on non-performing debt. This capability is an ideal complement to CCM’s success with semi-performing debt. By leveraging each other’s core strengths, CCM and Marlin will expand their ability to grow revenues across a broad range of debt types. In addition, the combined company expects to create further operational efficiencies by applying industry expertise and sharing best practices.
As part of the agreement, Ken Stannard, Marlin’s chief executive officer, has been appointed chief executive officer of CCM, with Neil Clyne, CCM’s current chief executive officer stepping down to pursue other interests. The Board would like to thank Neil Clyne for his significant contribution to the business.
“We are delighted to bring together two industry leaders with their own unique strengths. Together, the companies are well placed to become the purchaser of choice for U.K. vendors,” Stannard said. “I am honoured to be leading a great team of people through an exciting period of growth, and I look forward to working with the Board, our people and partners to ensure our continued success.”
Outgoing CCM chief executive Clyne said, “I want to thank the Board, our people and partners for their support and encouragement over the years as we have built CCM into an industry leader. I am proud of everything we’ve accomplished as a team, and I’m confident that together CCM and Marlin will lead the industry into its next phase of maturity.”
Marlin founder Martin Dunphy said, “I am extremely proud of our people and the company. The fact that Marlin has become an industry leading specialised debt buyer and a highly profitable business is a testament to what can be achieved when you assemble a great group of smart, motivated and ambitious people. I wish the combined company much success in the future.”
Miles Cresswell-Turner, Duke Street said, “I am immensely proud to have been associated with Marlin during its transformation from a niche player to a leading specialised UK debt buyer. Over the past four years of Duke Street investment, Marlin has not only grown faster than any of its peers (with a 5-fold increase in turnover), but has also achieved the highest return on assets and the lowest volatility of outcome amongst individual portfolios - a really impressive performance. It is a testament to the management and broader team that it is now becoming part of CCM, a leading UK debt purchaser.”
Marlin will form part of the CCM group, but continue to operate from its current location in Worthing, West Sussex, under the existing Marlin brand.
CCM was advised on this transaction by UBS Investment Bank and Macfarlanes LLP.
For further information, please contact:
Becky Cimelli
PR Manager, Cabot Credit Management
Tel: +44 (0) 7780 495082
Email: bcimelli@cabotcm.com
For Investor Relations, please contact:
Chris Ross-Roberts
Chief Financial Officer, Cabot Credit Management
Tel: +44 (0)1732 524 744
Mob: +44 (0)7789 392 038
Email: crossroberts@cabotcm.com
For further information on Marlin or Duke Street please contact:
Cabot Credit Management is the new name for the combined business following the acquisition of Cabot Financial by AnaCap Financial Partners and the subsequent merger of Cabot with Apex Credit Management in April 2011.
Over 70% of Apex Credit Management and Cabot Financial collections staff have achieved CSA (Credit Services Association) accreditation as part of the pilot of the CSA’s Collector Accreditation Initiative (CAI).
Apex Credit Management’s continuing strong performance has received yet more recognition, with the business entering The Sunday Times PwC Profit Track 100 at Number 38, reflecting another strong year of growth.
Apex Credit Management's continuing strong performance
has received yet more recognition, with the business entering The Sunday Times PwC Profit Track 100 at Number 38, reflecting another strong year of growth.
Apex Credit Management's market leading expertise in outbound telephone activities has been recognised by the Professional Planning Forum, which awarded the business their Customer Contact Innovation Award for Integrated Outbound at their 11th Anniversary Conference in Birmingham on 13 April.
On 24 February the Sunday Times List of the Top 100 Companies to Work For listed a new entry for Apex Credit Management. Apex entered this well respected index at No 53, an achievement that delighted the whole team.
People are the heartbeat of all businesses and Apex Credit Management is delighted to have been recognised for energy and investment with the accolade of Investors in People (IiP) Gold status, the highest level of recognition.