Concordia Coffee Systems Closes Over $6 Million Financing

BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Concordia Coffee Systems, the world's leading manufacturer of self-serve commercial espresso systems, announced it has raised $6.5 million in new financing led by Marker Hill Capital. Previous investors Fluke Capital Partners, Swiftsure Capital and several high-profile Seattle angel investors also participated in this round. 

Concordia Coffee System's CEO and Chairman of the Board, David Isett said, "This capital will be used to ramp up our international business and to fund the market roll out of our new line of coffee systems globally so we can now bring our outstanding coffee to the whole world."

Concordia Coffee Systems was the first in the world to develop and patent a fully automatic espresso delivery system that combines milk steaming, coffee grinding and brewing. The process is completed in one single step without the user having to move the cup. Everything needed to make the highest quality espresso beverage (fresh milk, fresh coffee beans, and premium sauces and syrups) is integrated in a single system.

Marker Hill Capital's Chairman, Robert Fanch will join the company's board of directors.  Fanch, renowned for having founded and managed several highly successful telecommunications enterprises, commented, "Concordia Coffee Systems has the winning combination that Marker Hill values in our investments:  patented disruptive technology, a strong operational team, and strong business expansion opportunities both domestically and internationally."   

The company's key partners include coffee roasters such as Starbucks, Seattle's Best and Caribou Coffee.  Concordia's customers include Hilton, MIT, Crave America!, Tesco, Costco, Google, Compass, Aramark, Sodexho, Stanford University, and United Airlines. 

Seattle, WA-based First Hill Partners served as sole financial advisor to Concordia in connection with this round of financing. 

Concordia Coffee Systems is the world's leading manufacturer of self-serve commercial coffee systems for coffee roasters and the retail, corporate, travel/hospitality, food service, convenience and specialty businesses.   All Concordia machines are manufactured at its Bellevue, WA headquarters and shipped to customers all over the world.  The company's patented processes deliver an amazing cup of coffee every time for the thousands of customers pouring millions of drinks every day. The company is located at 1287 120th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, Wash. 98005.   Web site: www.concordiacoffee.com.

Marker Hill Capital, a private equity fund, formed in March of 2011.  Led by Robert Fanch, Robert Cyman, Suzanne Fanch and Tom Juracek, the organization's focused on partnering with management teams in a variety of business sectors that are seeking capital for growth, particularly organizations looking for expansion capital.  Having backgrounds in Finance, Strategic Planning, Operations and Marketing, as well as capital markets, Marker Hill's background provides a broad range of expertise not typically found in private equity funds.  Current investment commitments include a broad range of sectors from energy and technology to real estate and hospitality.       

Fluke Venture Partners has invested in emerging growth businesses located in the Pacific Northwest for over 30 years.  Fluke's investments include companies providing unique solutions in technology, healthcare and consumer markets as well as manufacturing and business service enterprises.  Fluke's Managing Directors are Kevin Gabelein and Dennis Weston.  

Swiftsure Capital is a Seattle-based merchant bank that arranges investments by high net worth individuals, family holding companies and institutional investors. Since 2004, Swiftsure has been helping entrepreneurs in Northwest-based emerging growth companies raise capital and build shareholder value.

First Hill Partners is a regionally focused, middle market investment bank dedicated to providing high-end, high-touch, investment banking services to entrepreneurial companies and investors.  We pride ourselves on offering our clients access to our deep rolodex of relationships, in-depth industry knowledge and financial expertise. First Hill provides capital raising, mergers & acquisitions, and advisory board services.  All securities transactions are offered through Phillips Capital, Inc., a member of FINRA and SIPC.  First Hill's principals and advisors have deep transaction expertise, having completed over 150 transactions in key industries including: Software, Internet & Communications, Technology Enabled Business & Healthcare Services, Commercial & Consumer Products and Clean Technology.  For more information, visit www.firsthillpartners.com.

SOURCE Concordia Coffee Systems