~ Company chooses Florida to expand over other US and international cities ~

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Today, Governor Scott joined Macquarie Group to celebrate the opening of their global financial services center in Jacksonville that will create more than 120 new jobs over the next two years. The company chose Florida to locate their global financial services center over nearly 20 other locations in the US and around the world. Macquarie first announced its expansion in Florida in July 2015 and has already added 65 employees.

Governor Scott said, “I met with Macquarie last year at their U.S. headquarters in New York about their growth in Florida. It’s exciting that they have chosen Jacksonville over nearly 20 other locations as the best place to grow their business. By creating the new $250 million dedicated Florida Enterprise Fund and cutting $1 billion in taxes, Florida can continue to help more businesses expand and create jobs in our state.”

Patrick Upfold, CFO of Macquarie Group, said “We are thrilled to now be able to call Jacksonville home for our expanding company. The talent we have already secured from Jacksonville is top-notch, and it reiterates what we already know about Northeast Florida – Jacksonville’s rich talent pool, incredible quality of life and downtown growth provide us the key ingredients to continue growing our operations in the U.S.”

The expansion was made possible through partnerships between Enterprise Florida, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, JAXUSA and the City of Jacksonville.

Bill Johnson, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, said, “Florida’s financial services industry is one of the top in the country, and so it’s no surprise that great companies like Macquarie Group are expanding here. By choosing Florida, they are creating over 120 new jobs, which is great news for the Jacksonville area. I look forward to their continued success as we diversify our economy and make Florida the global leader in job creation.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “The Macquarie Group is a wonderful addition to Florida’s financial services market, and the company’s plans to grow in North Florida will provide great job opportunities for financial professionals. DEO is committed to supporting pro-growth initiatives like the creation of the $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund to encourage businesses like the Macquarie Group to invest in Florida and provide needed jobs.”

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said, “We are incredibly pleased that Macquarie has chosen Jacksonville as one of its newest locations. Macquarie is another example of a great company that recognizes Jacksonville’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly culture and environment that contributes to increased economic development opportunities, improved quality of life offerings, and a skilled and talented workforce.”

Mark Frisch, chair of JAXUSA Partnership, said, “Macquarie choosing to invest in Jacksonville is another prime example of the region’s strength in the financial services industry. The company makes it 13 major banks and investment services firms on Forbes’ Global 500 list with a presence here in Jacksonville. That speaks volumes about the business climate here and that Macquarie is confident it can find the high-quality workforce here it needs to be successful.”

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Macquarie Group (Macquarie) is a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. Macquarie acts on behalf of institutional, corporate and retail clients and counterparties around the world. Founded in 1969, Macquarie operates in more than 70 office locations in 28 countries. Macquarie employs approximately 13,500 people and has assets under management of more than $353 billion (as of September 30, 2015). For more information, visit www.macquarie.com/jax.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI recently launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.

The City of Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the continental United States, serving approximately 850,000 residents. Located in Duval County, City of Jacksonville leadership includes the mayor and a 19-member City Council. To learn more about the City of Jacksonville, visit COJ.net.

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