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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.