Press Releases

The 451 Group’s Report Highlights Leading Advisors on Technology M&A Transactions Between North American and EU Firms

NEW YORK, NY (July 28th, 2008) Marlin & Associates ("Marlin"), the boutique investment banking advisor and strategic consultant to middle–market digital information economy firms, was recently identified as a leader in cross–Atlantic technology merger and acquisition transactions by The 451 Group, a noted independent technology industry analyst company.

The 451 Group’s "The Tech M&A Banking Review: Cross–Atlantic Advisory Report" (available at www.the451group.com) highlights firms that advised on cross–Atlantic technology m&a transactions completed in 2007 and 2008. Marlin was recognized for its leadership in advising U.S. and European firms on both eastbound and westbound transactions.

"We appreciate the recognition by the 451 Group," says Ken Marlin, Founder and Managing Partner of Marlin & Associates. "Our cross–border execution capabilities and experience are valuable characteristics that help separate us from the rest. The clients and sectors we serve are not defined by geography – and neither are we."

About The 451 Group

The 451 Group is an independent technology industry analyst company focused on the business of enterprise IT innovation. The company provides critical and timely insight into the market and competitive dynamics of innovation in emerging technology segments. Vendor, investor, service–provider and other end–user organizations rely on 451 insight to support both strategic and tactical decision–making for competitive advantage. 451 is headquartered in New York, with offices in San Francisco, London and Boston. The company’s Tier 1 Research Division analyzes the financial and industry implications of developments impacting public and private companies within the IT, communications and Internet sectors. For more go to: www.the451group.com

The 451 Group’s Midyear Review of Tech M&A Banking is copyrighted and is cited with permission and should not be deemed to be an endorsement of any company or product.

About Marlin & Associates

Founded in 2002, Marlin & Associates New York LLC is a boutique investment banking and strategic consulting firm focused on providing highly strategic, transaction–related services to U.S. and international middle–market firms engaged in technology, information, on–line media and business–services. The firm is based in New York City with a Washington, DC office and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including "Middle Market Investment Banking Firm of the Year," "Middle Market Financing Agent of the Year ? Equity" and numerous "Deal–of–the–Year" awards. M&A’s professionals have advised on over 200 successfully completed transactions in the technology and information services sector, including:

• LexisNexis’s sale of Mealey’s Conferences to Business Valuation Resources (BVR). M&A advised LexisNexis a division of Reed Elsevier Group.
• Infodyne Corporation of Park Ridge, Illinois, which M&A advised on its sale to International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM).
• LowerFees, Inc. of Westlake Village, California, which M&A advised on its sale to Bankrate, Inc. (NASDAQ: RATE).
• Netik LLC of London, England and New York, which M&A advised on its simultaneous acquisition of Capco Reference Data Services and replacement of its primary investor, The Bank of New York Mellon Corp, with Symphony Technology Group.
• Hemscott of London, England, a division of Ipreo Holdings LLC of New York. M&A advised Ipreo and its principal Private Equity backer, Veronis Suhler Stevenson, on the sale of Hemscott to Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN).
• StarMine Corporation of San Francisco, which M&A advised on its sale to Reuters (now Thomson Reuters – NYSE: TRI).
• Applied Financial Technology (AFT) of San Francisco, M&A advised on its sale to Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE: FIS).
• Ventyx, Inc., of Atlanta, an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners of San Francisco. M&A advised Vista Equity Partners on the acquisition of Global Energy Decisions of Boulder, Colorado through Vista’s portfolio company Ventyx.
• Xcitek LLC’s Market Data Division of New York, which M&A advised on its sale to Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC).
• Hugin ASA of Oslo, Norway, which M&A advised on its sale to Euronext NV of Amsterdam (now NYSE Euronext – NYSE: NYX).
• Triple Point Technology of Westport, Connecticut, which M&A advised on the sale of a majority interest to ABRY Partners.
• Brainpower N.V. of Lugano, Switzerland, which M&A advised on its sale to Bloomberg L.P.
• Cameron Systems (Vic) of Sydney, Australia, which M&A advised on its sale to Orc Software of Stockholm, Sweden (STKM: ORC).
• Derivative Solutions, of Chicago, which M&A advised on its sale to FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS).
• Beauchamp Financial Technology Ltd. of London, England, which M&A advised on its sale to Linedata Services of Paris, France (PARIS: LIN).
• Global Securities Information, Inc. of Washington, D.C. which M&A advised on its sale to the Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters – NYSE: TRI).

CONTACT:

Marlin & Associates (212) 257–6300 | Contact@MarlinLLC.com | www.MarlinLLC.com