PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — One unique winner in the purchase of noted independent card portfolio brokerage Asset Exchange by Fidelity National Information Services is Brookwood Capital, the other independent portfolio brokerage that has served the credit union space.

“From our perspective the news about the Asset Exchange sale will just help to further distinguish us in the market,” explained Tim Kolk, managing partner with the firm. Kolk noted that while Brookwood will not be the only independent broker of CU card portfolios, it will be the only one whose card brokerage services are core to its business plan. “There are some other independent firms who might act as a broker for a CU client's card portfolio occasionally, but that is not one of their primary lines of business. It is ours,” he added.

The purchase of the brokerage by a card processor, one of its long time industry competitors, promises to significantly change the market by appearing to diminish the outlets credit unions can use to have their card portfolios independently evaluated and brokered.

Asset Exchange executives have not yet commented on how firm sees the sale affecting its business model, but a spokesman said that the purchase has been structured in such a way as to preserve its independence.