Investment bank D.A. Davidson has agreed to acquire Marlin & Associates, a technology-focused investment bank.
Marlin & Associates is a provider of strategic and financial advice to buyers and sellers of financial technology, data, analytics companies. Sectors of specific focus include financial, insurance, banking and legal technology as well as governance, risk management, and compliance technology. New York City-headquartered Marlin was founded in 2002 by Ken Marlin and Michael Maxworthy and has advised on more than 200 transactions in 27 countries.
“Our entire team at Marlin & Associates is thrilled to join with D.A. Davidson,” said Mr. Marlin. “We have found a partner who will help us to build on a 20-year history of dedication to client success that we at Marlin & Associates are all quite proud of.
The merger with D. A. Davidson – expected to close in the third quarter – will create the 5th largest middle-market investment banking group in the US with 60 professionals covering eight technology sectors including application software, financial technology, infrastructure software, vertical software, technology-enabled services, digital infrastructure, internet and digital media, and data and analytics.
“This combination significantly elevates our technology practice and brings us the required scale and domain expertise to serve any client in any situation across the fintech landscape,” said Joe Morgan, the head of technology investment banking at D.A. Davidson. “Fintech is one of the fastest-growing sub-sectors within technology – represented by over $60 billion in financing activity and over 3,200 completed M&A deals in the last twelve months alone. We see tremendous opportunity to leverage the Marlin & Associates’ team’s domain expertise across a full-service equities platform, and I am excited to be co-leading this team of professionals.”
At the close of this transaction, Mr. Marlin will serve as the vice-chairman of D.A. Davidson’s technology platform, while Mr. Morgan and Mr. Maxworthy will serve as co-heads of technology investment banking.
“We are excited to welcome our Marlin & Associates colleagues to the team,” said Rory McKinney, the head of investment banking at D.A. Davidson. “We have long admired their established track record as a trusted advisor and sector specialist within the fast-growing financial technology and data & analytics industries. In addition to our full-service equity capital markets capabilities and expanding research platform, we will now have 40 professionals dedicated to advising companies in the technology space, significantly enhancing our ability to provide world-class service to our clients.”
D.A. Davidson’s investment banking division offers both financial advisory and capital markets expertise. The group has transaction experience serving middle market clients worldwide across four industry verticals: consumer, diversified industrials, financial institutions, and technology.
D.A. Davidson is an employee-owned financial services firm offering a range of financial services and advice to individuals, corporations, institutions and municipalities nationwide. Founded in Montana in 1935, with regional headquarters in Great Falls, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle, the company has approximately 1,400 employees and offices in 28 states coast to coast.
© 2021 Private Equity Professional | June 15, 2021
Berenson Capital, a specialist investor in the software and technology-enabled services sector, has acquired Interactive Digital Solutions.
“IDS’s portfolio of solutions is driving incredible value for their clients across all segments of the market. In healthcare specifically, their proprietary MedSitter solution is revolutionizing how healthcare facilities address reducing patient falls within their facilities,” said Mr. Fetterolf. “I look forward to supporting the company as it continues providing best-in-class solutions into all markets.”
“Within the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven significant interest in and spurred widespread acceptance of telehealth solutions,” said Mohammed Ansari, a managing director and the head of private equity at Berenson Capital. “IDS plays a key role in meeting the needs of this rapidly expanding market through its telehealth communications solutions and the MedSitter patient monitoring tool. We look forward to working with IDS as the company continues to grow in this market.”
Rotunda Capital Partners has formed 
“This transaction continues Rotunda’s foundation of acquiring family and founder-owned companies and partnering with strong management teams,” said Corey Whisner, a partner at Rotunda. “We look forward to working alongside management to leverage the combined company’s geographic footprint and comprehensive solution capabilities to expand upon its existing value-proposition, while also accelerating expansion into new geographies and markets.”
“Over the last half-century, American Equipment’s team has built a leading regional equipment and service business and they are well-positioned for substantial future growth,” said Dan Lipson, a partner at Rotunda. “In addition to supporting the acquisitions of Pacific Crane & Hoist and Allied Crane, we are committed to helping the company build a business of national scale through both organic growth and additional acquisitions.”
“Rotunda has been looking for an investment in material handling distribution and service for some time,” said Ryan Aprill, a vice president at Rotunda. “The combination of American Equipment with Pacific Crane & Hoist and Allied Crane brings together more than 100 years of collective industry experience and creates the premier consolidation platform in the highly fragmented North American overhead crane and hoist market.”
