NEW YORK, June 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FRS Equity Strategies, Inc. ("FRS"), a market leader in stock plan administration in Silicon Valley since 2002, is pleased to announce that, as of June 2, 2014, it has been acquired by a new company, Continental/FRS Plan Administration, Inc. ("Continental/FRS"). FRS has for the past several years been an alliance partner of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, providing them with stock plan administration and related services. In order to expand its business so that it can offer the widest array of stock plan administration services, FRS agreed to be acquired by newly-formed Continental/FRS, a separate entity owned by principals of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Marianne Brannock-Hill, the founder of FRS, and her entire staff will be staying on at Continental/FRS, handling its many pre-existing customers as well as customers of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Likewise, the new company will continue to feature, among other software platforms, the industry-leading software of Equity Administration Solutions, Inc. ("EASi"), software that is used by over 800 public and private companies, to meet customers' various and complex stock plan administration needs.
Steven Nelson, President of Continental/FRS, and also President and Chairman of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, commented: "We are extremely excited to announce this acquisition and the formation of our new company. FRS and Marianne Brannock-Hill have a legendary following in Silicon Valley because of their unique expertise and their ability to finely tailor their services to the needs of their customers. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company has been the #1 rated stock transfer agent in the North America precisely because we have offered tailored, personalized best-in-class services for over 50 years. Accordingly, Continental/FRS will carry forward a rich tradition and business model which always places the customer's needs first. We will be significantly expanding our footprint in the Bay Area and across the country, and we are extremely pleased to have Marianne and her exemplary team staying on to support our valued customers."
Marianne Brannock-Hill, President of FRS and now Vice-President of Continental/FRS commented: "This is a truly exciting day for us at FRS, now Continental/FRS. We have worked as alliance partners with Steven Nelson and his team at Continental Stock Transfer for the past several years and we are thrilled that we will now be working together to build Continental/FRS to a much more expansive stock plan administration company, offering a wider array of services, including: outsource staffing, consulting on a wide range of issuer needs, expanded stock plan solutions, and transfer agent related services. Our team has worked extensively with emerging companies with complex plan needs, and we have demonstrated over and over again that we are uniquely qualified to meet their needs, no matter how complex. We wish to thank our customers for their continued trust and loyalty, and we too look to significantly expand our business beyond the Bay Area in the coming years."
About Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust has once again earned the position of #1 Stock Transfer Agent in North America in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and has ranked #1 in Value for eleven years straight among all major agents in North America. Continental manages 1,100 public and private issues, representing an aggregate of 2.5 million shareholders. For 50 years, Continental has delivered reliability, stability and premier service at an exceptional price to its customers.