Kirtland Capital Partners Wins ACG Cleveland Deal Maker Award

January 14, 2008
Cleveland, Ohio –In recognition of its successful transaction activity over the past two years, middle-market private equity firm Kirtland Capital Partners has been selected as a recipient of the 2008 Deal Maker Award from the Cleveland chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).

The Deal Maker Awards are designed to highlight Northeast Ohio’s companies and individuals who have been successful in their pursuit of corporate growth through acquisition, joint venture, financing, restructuring and divestiture transactions.

A selection committee of 30 M&A practitioners reviewed nominations to determine winners. Over the past 12 years, 60 companies and individuals have been recognized with the Deal Maker Award.  Previously, Kirtland earned a Deal Maker Award in 1997 and the firm’s founder, Jack Turben, was honored with a Deal Maker Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

Kirtland and other 2008 award winners will be honored by more than 600 members and guests from 20 major cities at the 12th annual Deal Maker Awards dinner on Feb. 7.

“For more than 30 years, our philosophy has been to build partnerships with strong operating management teams and align their interests through meaningful equity ownership.  In addition to capital, we also provide significant operating, financial and strategic resources to accelerate their growth,” said John Nestor, Kirtland senior managing partner and CEO.  “It is very rewarding to be recognized by our peers for our approach.”

“Kirtland is a pioneer in the world of middle-market LBOs, and helped start the long-standing tradition of excellence in Cleveland-based private equity firms, a tradition in which Kirtland sits at the very core here in Northeast Ohio,” said ACG Cleveland president, James Marra.  “As a friendly competitor to Kirtland, and speaking not only for ACG, but for my own firm as well, we are proud to be part of that tradition, and proud of what Kirtland has achieved over many years of excellence.”

About the Association for Corporate Growth
Founded in 1954, the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) is a global association for professionals involved in corporate growth, development, and mergers and acquisitions. Today, ACG has more than 11,000 members from corporations, private equity, finance and professional service firms representing Fortune 1000, FTSE 100 and mid-market companies in 53 chapters in North America and Europe.

ACG Cleveland, with 380 members, is the preeminent local organization for corporate development and middle-market M&A professionals. The chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2006. For more information, please visit www.acgcleveland.org.

About Kirtland Capital Partners
Kirtland Capital Partners (KCP) 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, KCP 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. KCP invests in niche manufacturing, distribution and business service companies with potential for growth organically and/or through strategic acquisition. The firm has $325 million of capital under management from institutional and individual investors. KCP 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.

###