News

LONDON, 22December 2011 –The Italian Private Equity Association (AIFI) has awarded Stirling Square Capital Partners the 2011 private equity transaction of the year award (buy-out category) for its investment in Microtecnica. The award is made annually by AIFI in conjunction with Ernst & Young for the deal which best demonstrates the value creation potential of private equity ownership. In reviewing eight finalists, the judges noted a transformational change at Microtecnica during the period of Stirling Square ownership. This comprised the successful delivery of an operational improvement programme, the investment of increased levels of capital expenditure/R&D and the recruitment of a number of key managers to grow the business.

Stefano Bonfiglio, Partner at Stirling Square, said: “We achieved a true alignment of interest with the management team at Microtecnica led by CEO Alan Bean. It was the managers who saw the opportunity to transform the business, changes that could be delivered through accessing private equity capital and working with an international partner knowledgeable in the aerospace and defence sector. I wish the management team well for the future.”

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Notes to Editors
About Stirling Square Capital Partners
Stirling Square Capital Partners is a private equity firm which invests in mid-market companies with enterprise values of between €50m and €500m. The firm manages two funds, totaling €775m capital under management and has made sixteen investments since it was established in 2003. www.stirlingsquare.com

About Microtecnica
Based in Turin and operating three plants in total across Northern Italy, Microtecnica is a diversified global provider of highly engineered innovative flight critical products to the aerospace and defence industries. www.microtecnica.net

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For Stirling Square
Fergus Wheeler at FTI Consulting:
(+44)2072697259
Fergus.wheeler@fticonsulting.com