Lleida, Spain and Salto, Brazil, September 24th, 2025: Stirling Square Capital Partners (“Stirling Square”), a leading pan-European mid-market private equity firm, today announces that its portfolio company Sustainable Agro Solutions (“SAS”), a leading developer and producer of biostimulants, soil conditioners, defence activators and other specialty plant nutrition solutions for the agricultural sector, has acquired a majority stake in Aqua do Brasil, a Brazilian producer of resistance inducers, biostimulants, soil conditioners and specialty fertilizers, from Luciano Gasparini, Founder and CEO. Gasparini will remain actively involved in the business alongside Stirling Square and SAS’s management team and lead the combined operations in Brazil going forward. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Stirling Square acquired a majority stake in SAS in July 2021 and has since supported the company’s growth through both strategic M&A and organic initiatives. This acquisition marks SAS’s first international acquisition and follows the acquisition of Biovert, a leading biosolutions business, in July 2023, as well as the carve-out of Pevesa Agroscience, a plant-based biostimulant and fertilizer producer, from Kerry Group in December 2024. Stirling Square has also worked closely with SAS’s management team to drive organic growth through R&D investments, product development, market expansion, and the execution of an ambitious capex programme. In 2024, following the expansion of its R&D and technical offices, SAS launched a significant (+€20m investment) project to expand its production plant in Lleida, which is expected to substantially increase storage and production capacity, make the new facilities more sustainable by reducing water and energy consumption, and yield notable operational efficiencies.
Eduard Vallverdú, CEO of SAS commented: “This is an incredibly exciting moment in SAS’s history as we undertake our first cross-border acquisition to address the rising global demand for our products in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing agricultural markets. Luciano, alongside the talented Aqua do Brasil team, possesses deep expertise and has built an impressive business with significant growth potential. We are delighted to have found an entrepreneurial partner that shares our vision for long-term success and matches our ambition to become a truly global leader in the biosolutions sector With a high-quality product portfolio, well-invested production capabilities, and a loyal and expanding customer base, Aqua do Brasil is uniquely positioned for future success. By combining our joint capabilities, we will unlock significant opportunities to reinforce our value proposition, scale production, and broaden customer reach, both in Brazil and across the wider Latin American region. I look forward to collaborating with Luciano and to seeing both teams, who share a strong entrepreneurial culture and a commitment to excellence, work together successfully.”
Luciano Gasparini, Founder and CEO of Aqua do Brasil said: “Founding Aqua do Brasil in 2010 was the beginning of a journey marked by innovation and a commitment to offering natural solutions that enhance the sustainability of Brazilian agriculture. Seeing the company reach this milestone, becoming part of SAS, is a source of great pride for me and for our entire team. This acquisition acknowledges the work we have built and opens a new phase of accelerated growth, with even greater capacity for innovation and expanded presence. It is a great satisfaction to join forces with SAS, internationally led by Eduard, whose vision I admire and with whom I share values of commitment and excellence. I am excited about this new phase and confident that, together, we will further expand our relevance and impact in the biosolutions sector.”
Enrico Biale, Partner at Stirling Square added: “SAS continues to deliver solid organic growth, driven by the strength of its core operations and a broadening customer reach. In line with our shared value creation strategy, SAS is complementing this momentum through targeted acquisitions that enhance technological capabilities, expand market access, capture additional value across the production lifecycle, and support sustainable, long-term growth. Aqua do Brasil is a fantastic and growing business, providing SAS with a robust platform to better meet increasing demand through local production and operational scale, while strengthening its presence in the strategic Latin American region.”
About Stirling Square Capital Partners
Stirling Square Capital Partners was founded in 2002 as a pan-European private equity firm specialized in internationalizing and digitizing mid-market businesses with an enterprise value between EUR 100m and EUR 500m. The firm manages EUR 3.5bn on behalf of a global and diverse investor base. Since inception, Stirling Square has invested in 30+ platform companies and 100+ add-on acquisitions globally, helping to create regional and global champions. For more information, visit www.stirlingsquare.com
About SAS
SAS is a group of companies whose objective is to lead the international market of biosolutions and plant nutrition products for the agricultural sector. Headquartered in Lleida (Spain), SAS is a global company present in more than 100 countries and with subsidiaries in different markets of interest. Its NOBA technology platform is a reference in the research of new solutions for agriculture. SAS is fully committed to sustainability, placing it at the heart of its business model.
About Aqua do Brasil
Aqua do Brasil is a leading provider of natural solutions for agriculture, offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialty fertilizers, plant biostimulants, resistance inducers, and soil conditioners formulated from plant extracts and essential oils. Headquartered in Salto, São Paulo, the company operates in over 20 Brazilian states and several Latin American countries, with a special focus on the fruits, vegetables, and greens segment. Known for its innovation and close relationship with growers, Aqua do Brasil is driven by a purpose: to boost agricultural productivity with sustainability and efficiency.
Sevilla and Lleida, Spain, 2 December 2024 - Stirling Square Capital Partners (“Stirling Square”), a leading pan-European mid-market private equity firm, today announces that its portfolio company Sustainable Agro Solutions (“SAS”), a leading developer and producer of biostimulants, soil and water improvers, defence activators and specialty plant nutrition solutions for the agricultural sector, has acquired Pevesa Biotech’s Agroscience division (“Pevesa Agroscience”), the plant-based biostimulant and fertilizer producer, from Kerry Group plc, a leading provider of taste and nutrition solutions for the food,beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
As part of the transaction, SAS will acquire Pevesa Agroscience’s operating assets and intellectual property, and ensure continuity for customers and employees. The transaction will enable the vertical integration of a strategic raw material – amino acids deriving from natural plant sources – and allow SAS to maximize its full potential. Stirling Square will work closely alongside SAS’s leadership team as they continue to deliver their strategy of developing the company into an international market leader in agricultural biosolutions.
Stirling Square acquired a majority stake in SAS in July 2021 and is supporting the company to grow both organically through R&D investments, product development and market expansion, as well as through M&A. In July 2023, SAS acquired Biovert, a leading biosolutions business. The acquisition of Pevesa Agroscience builds on strong momentum in SAS’ strategy, as it progresses a substantial project to expand its facilities in Lleida,Spain, to meet growing customer demand and support the business’ future growth.
Eduard Vallverdú, CEO of SAS said: “We have admired Pevesa Agroscience for a long time and are thrilled to announce this investment at an exciting time for our business. This transaction fits very well into SAS’ core business and will enable us to introduce Pevesa Agroscience’s complementary and differentiated technology, intellectual property, and operating assets to SAS. We will integrate into SAS a strategic raw material, allowing us to increase the efficiency, quality, and differentiation of the company's biostimulants product portfolio. That will support our ambition to become a global leader in the development and production of biosolutions for the agricultural sector. We continue to explore new investment opportunities to supplement our organic growth as we look ahead.”
Lleida, Spain, 3 July 2023: Stirling Square Capital Partners (“Stirling Square”), a leading pan-European mid-market private equity firm, today announces that its portfolio company Sustainable Agro Solutions (“SAS”), a leading developer and producer of bio-stimulants, soil and water improvers, defence activators and specialty plant nutrition solutions for the agricultural sector, has acquired Biovert, a developer and producer of bio-stimulants, biocontrol and specialty plant nutrition solutions for the agricultural sector. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Stirling Square will support SAS and Biovert to consolidate their leadership position in the fragmented biosolutions market, both organically (through R&D investments, product development and expansion into new geographic markets) and through M&A.
Founded in 1988, Biovert is a family-owned developer and producer of bio-stimulants, biocontrol and other specialty plant nutrition solutions (including soil correctors, protectors) for the agricultural sector, with strong in-house R&D capabilities. Biovert is based, like SAS, in Lleida, a key agronomic hub in Southern Europe, with a robust international profile particularly in Latin America and northern Africa.
Eduard Vallverdú, CEO of SAS, said: “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Biovert, a business that is close to ours, having a culture that that is aligned to SAS’ and complementary technologies. Biovert has a high-quality product portfolio, a strong knowledge of the bio-stimulants sector, including seaweed extracts – a strategic growth area for our business – as well as a leading position in organic solutions. Biovert has an experienced and committed management team, who has executed on a clear strategic vision and has promoted a culture based on innovation and excellence. I am looking forward to seeing both teams work together to reinforce our long term strategy. Stirling Square has been instrumental in supporting this transformational investment which will help achieve the next phase of our growth strategy.”
Enric Bonet, CEO of Biovert, added: “This is an important step in our growth journey, and I am delighted Biovert is combining with SAS who share our heritage and vision, both underpinned by a commitment to R&D and innovation, as well as a common interest in internationalisation”.
Enrico Biale, Partner at Stirling Square, commented: “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Biovert, in line with our strategy of supporting SAS’s growth both organically and through selected acquisitions. The strong cultural fit between teams, as well as the complementary nature of Biovert’s business – geographically and from a product technology perspective – make this the ideal first acquisition for SAS. This is an important step forward in our ambition to jointly create one of the global leaders in the development and production of biosolutions”.
Stirling Square acquired a majority stake in SAS in July 2021. The Firm has extensive experience investing alongside family-owned businesses across Europe.
Stirling Square Capital Partners (“Stirling Square”), a leading pan-European mid-market private equity firm, announces today the acquisition of Sustainable Agro Solutions (“SAS” or “the Company”), in a primary transaction.
Founded in 1989, SAS has established itself as a leading developer and producer of biostimulants, soil and water improvers, defence activators, and specialty plant nutrition solutions for the agricultural sector. Headquartered in Lleida (Spain), the Company is present in 90 countries across Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Sustainability is at SAS’s core. This is evidenced from both the product offering, which is respectful of the environment, and allows farmers to maximise yields while minimizing soil depletion, water consumption and pesticide use, and the production processes as SAS sources c.20% of its energy needs from photovoltaic panels installed on its facility. Additionally, SAS is carrying out projects at its facilities to optimize and achieve waste reduction and the development of circular economy products.
Enrico Biale of Stirling Square commented: “SAS is an outstanding platform which represents Stirling Square’s first transaction in Spain. We are very excited about the growth opportunities that will allow SAS to consolidate its prime position in the fragmented biostimulants market, organically and through international M&A. Eduard and his team have strong conviction on the sustainability of their product range, which aligns with Stirling Square’s strong ESG footprint.”
Eduard Vallverdú, CEO of SAS added: “We are delighted to welcome Stirling Square as partners. There is a great affinity between SAS and Stirling Square in terms of philosophy and vision that makes us ideal partners for our project and future strategy in such a dynamic sector. Stirling Square brings deep global networks and growth expertise that will allow SAS to incorporate new resources and competencies into this project and further reinforce its leading position in terms of sustainability, products, technology and global presence.”
The transaction represents the sixth platform investment in Stirling Square’s Fourth Fund.