NARS Acquired by H.I.G. Capital and Reprise Management Group

On Wednesday, Miami-based H.I.G. Capital, a private equity firm, in conjunction with the Reprise Management Group acquired St. Louis, Mo-based National Asset Recovery Services (NARS), an accounts receivable management (ARM) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services provider.

The Reprise Management Group was formed in April 2009 by H.I.G. Capital and Tim Baurer, a 25 year veteran in the ARM industry, for the purpose of making strategic investments in ARM companies. A press release on the acquisition stated that NARS is Reprise’s first acquisition and will be a platform on which its first-party ARM Services growth will occur.

H.I.G. Capital’s Managing Director Jeff Zanarini stated, “We are excited to invest in NARS, an organization that has a proven ability to provide the highest level of service to its clients’ most demanding requirements.”

“NARS Chief Executive Officer Chris Buehrle and his team have built an exceptional business. Its on-shore/near-shore strategy is timely and efficient, and NARS is uniquely poised for additional growth,” Tim Bauer said in the press release.

Buerhle stated that the investment allows NARS to continue to provide its client partners with good service, deepen its service offerings and continue having strong year-over-year growth.

Mark Russell, Director of Kaulkin Ginsberg told insideARM, “We are not surprised to see this type of deal get completed in today’s market, as it is further evidence that M&A activity is starting to pick up and debt financing is becoming more accessible.” He also said, “Kaulkin Ginsberg has assisted several clients in completing M&A transactions this year, including the acquisition of Total Debt Management by NCO Group, which was previously referenced by NCO CEO Michael Barrist in an announcement regarding NCO’s intention to acquire Axiant LLC.”

Greenberg Advisors represented H.I.G. Capital and Reprise in this transaction.