First Cash Financial Services, Inc. has notified that it has acquired Presta Max, a privately-held chain of 16 pawn stores located in southern Mexico, for an undisclosed amount.

The Company purchased 100% of the stock of Presta Max in an agreement which was signed and closed on December 5, 2008.

With the acquisition of the Presta Max stores, First Cash now operates 267 stores in Mexico and 521 stores in total. The Company believes that the transaction will be accretive to its earnings in 2009.

Rick Wessel, CEO of First Cash, during a press conference stated, "The 16 Presta Max stores will further expand our significant Mexican pawnshop operations. These new stores are profitable, provide us a valuable entry point into new markets within Mexico and fit well into our long-term strategy for growth."

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer and provider of consumer financial services. Its pawn stores make small loans secured by pledged personal property, retail a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools and other merchandise, and in many locations, provide short-term loans and credit services products.

The scrip of the company slipped 4.43 per cent to $16.84 at the close of Thursday's trading with over 4,000 shares changing hands on the Nasdaq.