January 15, 2015
Sterling Investment Partners Successfully Exits Excelligence Learning Corporation
Westport, CT – January, 2015 -- Sterling Investment Partners (“Sterling”), a leading middle market private equity firm, today announced it has completed the sale of Excelligence Learning Corporation (“Excelligence”), a leading developer, manufacturer, distributor, and multi-channel retailer of educational products, which are sold to child care programs, preschools, elementary schools and consumers, to Brentwood Associates.
“Under Sterling’s ownership, Excelligence flourished,” commented Kelly Crampton, Chief Executive Officer of Excelligence. “With Sterling’s guidance and support, Excelligence has advanced our original vision of the company and created an even stronger platform for the future. We thoroughly appreciate all of Sterling’s efforts throughout our successful partnership.”
Charles W. Santoro, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Sterling commented, “Working together with management, we have taken a market leader to the next level of its development and solidified its position for future success. We are extremely pleased with what we have achieved with our investment in Excelligence.”
Douglas L. Newhouse, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Sterling said, “It has been a privilege working in partnership with Kelly and the entire Excelligence management team. Since we made our investment, Excelligence has built upon its core strengths while continuing to innovate and lead in the pre-K market.”
Sterling’s investment in Excelligence leveraged the firm’s extensive experience in value-added distribution. Earlier in 2014, Sterling invested in Lipari Foods, which is one of the largest distributors of specialty food products in the Midwestern U.S. Prior value-added distribution investments by Sterling include FCX Performance, a leading distributor of specialty flow control equipment, and Interline Brands, Inc. (NYSE:IBI), a leading national distributor and direct marketer of specialty maintenance, repair and operations products.
William Blair & Company and Norton Rose Fulbright advised Excelligence in this transaction.
Sterling Investment Partners
Sterling Investment Partners is a private equity firm that has been investing in and building middle-market companies for almost 25 years with a highly experienced, cohesive team of senior investment professionals. Sterling acquires businesses that the firm believes have strong, sustainable competitive advantages and significant opportunities for value creation. Sterling has $1.5 billion in initial fund commitments. Over its history, Sterling has completed platform investments, strategic or add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations and liquidity events with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $10.0 billion, representing more than 100 transactions. Key industries Sterling focuses on include business services, industrial and consumer value-added distribution, niche manufacturing, and transportation and logistics. www.sterlinglp.com
Excelligence Learning Corporation
Excelligence Learning Corporation is a leading developer, manufacturer, distributor, and multi-channel retailer of educational products, which are sold to child care programs, preschools, elementary schools, and consumers. Excelligence provides quality educational products and programs for children from infancy to 12 years of age at all ability levels. The company offers a broad array of products designed for classroom use, enhanced by its extensive proprietary product development program. Excelligence’s mission is to help further children’s education beginning at birth, and to support learning at school and at home by providing educators and parents with high quality products, services, and valuable resources. www.excelligence.com.