Oldsmar, Florida, September 6, 2006
Audio Messaging Solutions, LLC (AMS), an SJ Partners portfolio company, has announced that it has refinanced its debt, acquired a Spanish language messaging on hold concern, and taken an additional equity investment from SJ Partners, LLC.
AMS completed the acquisition of certain assets of HoldPlus, Inc., a leading on hold messaging provider in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “This strategic acquisition will enable AMS to offer Hispanic voice talent services to its clients throughout North America,” stated AMS President Mitchell Keller.
As a result of the first AMS expansion in to the Caribbean region, the San Juan HoldPlus office will expand service with AMS to multiple Caribbean, Central, and South American locations.
“We are pleased to announce this partnership with AMS. Our clients will continue to receive the outstanding service they are accustomed to, with access to more on-hold and related products. We are excited to be working with AMS globally; our expansion is a positive step for Puerto Rico,” stated Gale Patron, President of HoldPlus and member of the On Hold Messaging Association. Gale will continue as Caribbean Divisional Manager.
“We look forward to working with HoldPlus’ clients”, said Mitchell Keller, President of AMS. He continued: “The time was right to establish a strong AMS presence in the Latin business community. The HoldPlus team will assist in expanding this emerging market. Gale really impressed us with how she built HoldPlus to become the largest area provider of customized telephone messaging. We could not think of a better operator as a partner. With its diverse business and economic base and a sophisticated business climate, Puerto Rico seemed to be a natural fit for us.” AMS will be introducing other products such as In-Store Music and Messaging along with implementation of the latest technology advances including VOIP. This will allow new and existing customers to take advantage of key customer touch points and extend their branding in new and exciting ways.
AMS also repaid the subordinated debenture and warrant due to Salem Capital Partners, L.P. and closed on a senior credit facility with the Branch Bank and Trust Company (BB&T), the 9th largest financial holding company in the United States with $116 billion in assets. “SJ Partners, LLC is pleased to increase its commitment to AMS. Having completed three add-on acquisitions within the past 18 months, we believe that AMS has developed a solid and now proven acquisition strategy. With our new financing in place, we look forward to further executing upon our plan as AMS continues to build upon its position as one of the nation’s top five audio messaging on hold providers,” stated SJ Partners CEO Scott Johnson. Scott Johnson will also become a member of the board of directors.
About AMS
Initially founded twenty years ago, AMS is a premier provider of messaging on hold services. The Company writes, records, and delivers telephone on hold messaging. AMS has a diversified base of over 12,000 accounts with many major national clients such as Merrill Lynch, The United States Post Office, Coldwell Banker, and Goodyear Tire. AMS also distributes messaging on hold equipment. AMS is the exclusive on-hold messaging provider for Avaya, the nation’s largest manufacturer of phone systems. More information about AMS is available on their website: www.amsonhold.com.
About SJ Partners, LLC
SJ Partners (SJP) acquires and advises middle market businesses. SJ Partners invests in consumer and services companies with $1-5 million in cash flow. Industries of particular interest include food distribution and consumer products. SJP also provides select investment banking services. SJP’s resources provide a deep base of operating and research knowledge. SJP’s founder and CEO Scott Johnson was trained as an equity analyst and was a member of a #2 rated Institutional Investor rated team at Merrill Lynch.
The firm also benefits from its affiliated relationship with the NPD Group, one of the nation’s largest private consumer market research companies. Lastly, SJP works with a set of operating partners who each have over 20 years of experience in the distribution, consumer and services industries.
For more information, please contact:
Aaron Kleinhandler, CEO, Audio Messaging Solutions
(800) 584 4653,
Scott Johnson, CEO, SJ Partners, LLC,
(212) 362-1530,