Marlin makes first equipment finance acquisition

Marlin Business Services, a leading provider of finance products and services to small businesses, has acquired Horizon Keystone Financial, a long established originator of equipment finance for the office furniture, heating/ventilation/air conditioning/refrigeration (HVAC/R) and automotive markets.

Marlin said the acquisition, its first ever undertaken, represents an important milestone and extends its existing equipment finance business into new and growing markets.

Horizon Keystone, founded in 1994, has over twenty years of experience providing equipment finance solutions to small businesses. Its founder and CEO, Daniel Harkin, will remain with Marlin as a senior advisor supporting Horizon Keystone’s transition as well as other Marlin strategic initiatives.

“Horizon Keystone is an ideal complement to our existing equipment finance business by providing Marlin with the opportunity to enter new equipment markets while further leveraging our existing infrastructure,” said Jeffrey Hilzinger, Marlin’s president and CEO. “Also, by providing Horizon Keystone with access to our technology, marketing resources and low cost funding platform, we believe that there is an opportunity to significantly accelerate Horizon Keystone’s future growth.”