Experience as Executive, Investor Add to Private Equity Firm’s Commitment to Investors, Niche Companies
Milwaukee, WI – September 1, 2010 – Blackthorne Partners, a Milwaukee-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce the addition of finance and management veteran Steve Balistreri as managing director, enhancing the firm’s ability to advance the success of both its clients and the niche businesses in which it invests.
Balistreri’s long record of operational, managerial and turnaround success makes him a perfect complement to Blackthorne Partners’ steadfast commitment to due diligence in every private equity investment opportunity.
“Steve’s blend of solid investment strategy and proven operational experience, particularly in the service sector, uniquely equip him not only to uncover exceptional opportunities but to help companies to reach their full growth potential,” said John Syburg, president and co-founder of Blackthorne Partners. “His expertise and dedication bring extraordinary value to our investors and our portfolio companies alike.”
Blackthorne Partners’ focus is on investing in small, private, niche businesses—companies with less than $1 million in EBITDA and $2-$10 million in revenues—with strong market positions, stable cash flow and growth potential. While this market segment receives little attention from the traditional private equity community, it offers significant opportunity for value creation.
Balistreri’s experience is evidence of this potential. As president/CEO of Sun Cleaning Systems, for example, he grew the company from $100,000 to $10,000,000 in sales, added over 600 employees and increased its economic value six-fold. As Founding Director of Spring Bank of Brookfield, WI, a startup that opened in September 2008, his team raised $12.5 million in initial capital; the bank’s assets have since tripled.
Balistreri also spent several years at Marsden Holdings LLC, a privately held security and facility services company based in St. Paul, MN, as executive vice president of finance and national accounts; and, most recently, as president of Legacy Advisors LLC, a business turnaround consulting firm.
“Now more than ever, small businesses need new sources of capital and guidance for growth,” said Balistreri. “I’m excited to join Blackthorne Partners and leverage my experience to help bring these types of companies together with clients who might not otherwise have access to such great investment opportunities.”
About Blackthorne Partners: Blackthorne Partners is a private equity and direct investment firm based in Milwaukee, WI, that provides unique investment opportunities in small, niche companies that are under the radar of traditional private equity firms. The firm supports this approach through the steadfast due diligence of a seasoned team that combines extensive investment experience with deep operational knowledge that advances the success of both its investors and the companies in which it invests. For more information, visit http://www.blackthornepartners.com.
