Martin Dunphy, Irish founder of the Marlin Financial Group – A UK based Debt Collection Agency has netted a cool 30m for his 20 per cent stake after his company was bought out by rival debt purchasing firm Cabot Credit Management for a whopping 295m.
In a true rags to riches story, Mr Dunphy set up the Debt Collection firm in the front room of his Wimbledon home in 2002. After a stint in China, he spotted a newspaper article detailing the withdrawal of a US consumer finance firm from the UK market.
He then contacted the American based company and agreed a deal to take over their Worthing office that dealt with car loan collections.
He then moved the company on from just dealing with the car finance sector on to the financial loans sector dramatically improving the company’s fortunes.
Mr Dunphy initially sold a 58 per cent stake in Marlin to private equity company Duke Street Capital in 2010 but wisely maintained a 20 per cent holding in the business.
He plans to take time out with family and pursue charity projects before starting a new company.
