Kirtland Capital Invests in Direct Mail Business
Northwest Mailing Service to Provide Platform for Follow-On Acquisitions

July 10, 2009
Cleveland, Ohio – Middle-market private equity firm Kirtland Capital Partners (Kirtland) announced today that it has invested in leading direct mail business Northwest Mailing Service, Inc. (Northwest), which will serve as a platform for strategic follow-on acquisitions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Northwest produces highly customized and personalized direct mail promotions for the customer retention and loyalty programs of its clients. Its clients are in a broad range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, communications, retail, insurance, hospitality and others. The company provides a variety of services including promotional design, mail list data management, variable data inkjet and laser printing, inserting, binding, affixing, storage, fulfillment and mailing. Based in Chicago, Northwest operates a 230,000-square-foot production facility and has approximately 150 employees.

"Northwest was really in our sweet spot for what we seek in an investment. It has a strong competitive position, excellent organic and acquisition growth potential and stable cash flows," said Kirtland Partner James A. Foley. "Plus, key to our business relationships, Northwest has an extremely strong management team, led by David and Michael Joss, that is highly motivated and knows how to grow the business."

"Our company has grown at a steady rate since its founding by our father in the early 1950s," said Northwest President David Joss. "We have now reached the point where Northwest required a value-added partner that could help us capitalize on the growth opportunities before us. We determined that a partnership with Kirtland, with its operational, financial and strategic resources, could help take us to the next level."

About Kirtland Capital Partners
Kirtland Capital Partners is a relationship-oriented private equity firm focused on accelerating the growth of middle-market companies by leveraging its internal operating, financial and strategic resources. For more than 30 years, Kirtland has executed a disciplined investment strategy that has created long-term value in its portfolio companies and delivered superior returns to its investors and management teams. Kirtland invests in niche manufacturing, distribution and business service companies with potential for growth organically and/or through strategic acquisition. The firm has $290 million of capital under management from institutional and individual investors. Kirtland is known for the strong partnerships it builds with its operating management teams and the experience of its professionals. More information is available at www.kirtlandcapital.com.

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