AFS Technologies, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Astra Information
Systems, Inc.
Acquisition Positions AFS as the Leading Software Supplier to the Seafood Industry
PHOENIX – May 9, 2007 – AFS Technologies,Inc. ("AFS"), the leading provider of
food and beverage enterprise software solutions, announced today that it has
completed the acquisition of Astra Information Systems, Inc ("Astra"), a Weston, F Lbased
provider of software solutions to distributors, processors and importers,
primarily in the Seafood industry. With this acquisition, AFS now serves over 300
customers, and will be headquartered in Phoenix-AZ, with offices in Milford-CT,
Weston-FL, and Bangalore, India. AFS offers the food and beverage industries the
only software solution that provides a complete suite of fully-integrated software
applications, utilizing a database independent design, and a Service Oriented
Architecture (SOA).
AFS also announced today that it has closed a mezzanine debt financing, provided by
Merion Investment Partners, L.P., a King of Prussia, PA-based mezzanine capital firm
("Merion"), to fund the acquisition of Astra.
"I am very pleased with the acquisition of Astra. Both companies complement each
other well. AFS has made a substantial capital investment in the development of its
.NET framework and Astra's management – Abe Nezvadovitz and Lee Kadin, who will
play an integral role at AFS, bring deep domain expertise in the seafood industry. As
a result, Astra's customers will be offered broader product offerings on a leading
edge technology platform, and more process-oriented product development and
customer support, thus ensuring high quality software implementations and
deployments," said Kurien Jacob, CEO of AFS."
"Merion is excited to continue to support the growth of AFS," said William Means,
Managing Partner of Merion Investment Partners, L.P." We believe the company has
an excellent management team and the best enterprise software solution for the
food and beverage industries."
"Our vision is to build AFS into the premier software solutions provider to the food
and beverage industries. The acquisition of Astra in May 2007, following the
acquisition of DMS in April 2006, adds additional scale to position AFS firmly on that
path," said Walter Barandiaran, Chairman of AFS, and a Managing Partner of The
Argentum Group.
Madison Park Group advised AFS Technologies, Inc. in the transaction.
About AFS Technologies, Inc.
AFS Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of food and beverage enterprise
software solutions. The company serves over 300 customers across North America
and the Caribbean with software designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency,
streamline internal processes and assist in regulatory compliances. Solutions
available include complete distribution and financials, vendor rebate tracking,
warehouse management, web order management, supply chain management,
eCommerce, business intelligence, processing, and mobile sales & delivery products.
For more information visit www.afsi.com.
About Astra Information Systems, Inc.
Headquartered in South Florida, Astra Information Systems has provided software
solutions to fish and seafood importers, processors and distributors for over 24
years. Astra serves over 1,200 users and is considered the leading software provider
to the seafood industry. For more information please visit www.astrainfo.com.
About Merion Investment Partners, L.P.
Merion is the largest independent mezzanine fund headquartered in Pennsylvania
and is focused on transactions ranging from $3 - $10 million to support organic
growth, acquisitions, buyouts and generational transfer of ownership. Merion can
function as a one-stop shop to support smaller equity funds to round out their capital
raise by providing both equity and debt or as a coupon only provider to larger funds
in support of buyouts or acquisitions. Merion also seeks to work directly with
entrepreneurs to support their acquisition strategies as well as provide them with
liquidity to diversify concentrated wealth in their companies. Visit us on the web at
www.merionpartners.com.
About The Argentum Group
The Argentum Group is a New York-based private equity firm that provides capital to
growing businesses in the lower middle market, and supports expansion growth,
buyouts, and recapitalizations. Argentum emphasizes the concept of "partnership
investing" - backing strong management teams with proven track records and then
working closely to create value together. Argentum invests $3 to $10 million in
profitable companies with revenues of $5 to $50 million; and targets industries in the
areas of outsourced services, healthcare, and information technology. Argentum
serves as general partner of investment partnerships with over $400 million of
capital under management. Since raising its first fund in 1990, Argentum has
invested in over 60 companies across a broad range of industries. For more
information, please visit: www.argentumgroup.com.
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