The purchase was the second foray for Gores into the POS terminal world. Gores bought a controlling interest in VeriFone Systems Inc. from Hewlett-Packard Co. in 2001 and later sold the company. What attracted Gores to Hypercom is the belief that merchants want an alternative to VeriFone terminals, which dominate the U.S. "Equinox has a large installed base, is a primary player in the market, and represents an attractive platform for growth," says Craig Brooks, vice president of mergers and acquisitions for The Gores Group. The firm typically looks to acquire mature companies and manage them for growth for at least four years. Software, however, remains the real differentiator behind any POS terminal.