December 2, 2010 -- Generation Partners, a $345 million private investment firm, today announced the sale of its ownership position in Sterling Infosystems, Inc. (“Sterling” or the “Company”) to Calera Capital in partnership with William Greenblatt and management.  Generation Partners provided growth capital to Sterling in 2003 and was the Company’s first institutional investor.

Headquartered in New York, Sterling is a leading provider of employment and background screening services.  William Greenblatt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard Seldon, President, will continue to lead the Company.  Paul Walsh, a Calera operating partner, will serve as Chairman and Mark Williamson and Michael Moon of Calera Capital will join the Board.  Mark Jennings of Generation Partners will also continue to serve on Sterling’s Board.

“Sterling has been a highly successful investment for our firm,” commented Mark Jennings, Managing Partner at Generation Partners.  “During the period of our ownership, Sterling grew ten-fold and became a global leader in its industry.  The Sterling management team, led by Founder and CEO Bill Greenblatt, is truly extraordinary and has done an outstanding job building the Company.”  He added, “Sterling is a perfect example of Generation’s investment strategy; we specialize in providing growth capital to exceptional entrepreneurs, focus exclusively on high-growth service businesses and we generate our returns through core business growth, rather than through financial leverage.”

Bill Greenblatt, Founder and CEO of Sterling commented “Generation has a well deserved reputation as one of the best growth equity firms.  They are experts at professionalizing service businesses, and their capital and guidance have been absolutely invaluable to Sterling over the course of our seven-year partnership.”  He added, “I’m excited that Mark Jennings will continue to serve on our Board, and I’m thrilled to have won the confidence of Calera Capital to become our partner for the next phase of Sterling’s growth.”