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American Coin Merchandising, Inc., headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, is the largest owner, operator and franchisor of coin-operated amusement vending equipment in the U.S. The amusement vending machines operated by ACMI are principally skill-cranes, which dispense stuffed animals, plush toys, watches, jewelry and candy. The Company is the third largest seller of plush toys in the U.S. (at retail value) behind Wal*Mart and Hallmark. In addition to skill-cranes, ACMI also operates kiddie rides, bulk vending machines and video games. These machines are located principally in mass merchandisers, supermarkets, restaurants, bowling centers and truck stops. With a presence in 49 states, Mexico and China, ACMI is the largest player in the amusement vending industry, and is roughly 3 times the size of its nearest competitor. ACMI is the only company in its industry with the route infrastructure and equipment capable of supporting national customers across multiple regions. Wal*Mart is ACMI’s largest customer, and the company operates its equipment in more than 50% of all Wal*Mart locations nationwide.

Formerly a public company, ACMI was acquired by Wellspring in early 2002 in a going-private transaction. The recapitalization of the Company by Wellspring enabled ACMI to pursue new growth avenues and embark on an aggressive expansion campaign.

Over a two-year period under Wellspring’s ownership, ACMI vertically integrated and expanded into ancillary categories such as bulk vending. Organic growth and tuck-in acquisitions allowed ACMI to more than double in size over two years and dramatically increase its route density and efficiency. Expansion into emerging markets including Mexico and China laid the foundation for continued long-term growth.

The growth platform and systems developed during Wellspring’s ownership of ACMI created interest among several strategic suitors, including Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR), an international route services company in the self-service coin counting industry, to which Wellspring ultimately sold ACMI.

"Wellspring was a partner that helped American Coin’s management elevate the business to the next level. The support and strategic input that we received from the Wellspring team was tremendous. Wellspring’s principals navigated the public-to-private process adeptly and helped manage risks while maximizing opportunities throughout the process. The sale to Coinstar was a natural fit and the transition has been seamless."

Randall Fagundo
Chief Executive Officer